Venetian Macau to impact on Hong Kong
MACAU – The opening yesterday of the US$2.4 billion Venetian Macau complex this week is expected to hurt Hong Kong’s tourism industry in the short term as the Venetian’s convention and exhibition facilities draw more business visitors to Macau.
“The opening of the Venetian Macau will inevitably bring novelty,” a spokesperson for the Hong Kong Tourism Board told The Standard business newspaper.
“We expect that there will be a certain impact on incentive travel and corporate meetings from some short-haul markets in the near future.”
The Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai has net space of 49,000 sqm – less than half of what the Venetian Macau offers.
However, the HKCEC’s size will expand to 60,000 sqm in 2009 after the completion of the Atrium Link Extension.
“The Venetian may create a little competition,” HKCEC managing director Cliff Wallace told The Standard. “[But] I don’t think it’s going to be competition we have to be concerned about.
“More positively, it’s going to be competition that will eventually be an advantage to Hong Kong and the HKCEC,” Wallace said.
“What Macau is bringing … is an enormous amount of new attention to this region.”
Hong Kong star Alan Tam sang a duet with the American legend Diana Ross at the opening ceremony, attended by 7,000 guests including Macau’s chief executive, Edmund Ho. The world’s renowned Cirque du Soleil created a special performance for the event.
Soon afterwards, thousands of guests began streaming through the doors to get their own look at The Venetian’s Grand Canal Shoppes, a wide selection of restaurants and the world’s largest casino.
“This is the first innings of a very long game,” said Sheldon G. Adelson, chairman and CEO of Las Vegas Sands Corp. “I pledge to you, the people of Macau, we’ll do what we’ve promised and more.”
“Today a new era begins for Macau,” said Bill Weidner, president and COO of Las Vegas Sands Corp.
Destination Macau reported that all 3,000 of The Venetian’s suites have been booked out until the end of the week, an indication of the new resort’s popularity.
Ian Jarrett
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025