Price to pay for success
Fanny Vong Chuk-kwan has led the training of the tourism industry's front-line staff since 1999, and the Macau Institute for Tourism, of which she is president, has become the benchmark for rising standards in service quality.
She sees the expansion of the gaming industry as having brought renewed vitality to Macau. 'Residents have never felt more upbeat with the abundance of job opportunities, while having higher spending power and pride as their city comes under the international spotlight,' Vong says.
'But one must not forget the other side of the coin; with economic development also come social costs. Crimes related to gaming have increased, some residents' values might have become more short-sighted for immediate rewards. Participation in gaming among residents also rose ... and the city has become more congested. As a result there is a loss of the laid-back, take-it-easy kind of attitude.
'Overall, I think the economic objective has been achieved and it is now time to focus on strategies to enhance the social and community aspects of Macau so that residents' quality of life can truly be enhanced. There are many components: a healthy living environment, equal opportunity to work and learn, freedom from worry about sickness and poverty, to be able to enjoy high-quality leisure and social activities. 'The city is quite congested on holidays and peak seasons. I still enjoy spending some weekend time in Coloane. There you can reminisce about the charm of the quiet old days.'
Still, Vong believes what makes the city a unique destination is its array of experiences for visitors - from entertainment, sports and nightlife, to charming churches and temples to food and culture.
'Macau is moving closer to being an international destination,' she says. 'Things will heat up in the next five to 10 years as the world economy picks up. The strip will begin to truly take shape and become one of the main concentrations of visitor experiences in town. Hopefully, more international flight routes will connect Macau directly to the rest of the world so that we will host more visitors. There will be closer integration with the Pearl River Delta and Macau will find itself competing with and complementing neighbouring cities.
'The challenge remains how to create a balance between development and quality of life. We need to keep this in mind while remaining competitive.'
