Supporting the Digital Transformation of the Cultural and Exhibition Tourism Industry in the GBA – Metaverse Forum held at USJ
Supporting the Digital Transformation of the Cultural and Exhibition Tourism Industry in the GBA – Metaverse Forum held at USJ
26
Sep
26/09/2023
The “Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Cultural Tourism Convention and Exhibition Industry Digital Innovation Forum” promotes moderate diversification and digital transformation”.
The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Cultural Tourism Convention and Exhibition Industry Digital Innovation Forum – titled “Moderate Diversification, Digital Innovation” was held at the University of Saint Joseph (USJ) Macao on the 25th of September, 2023. The Forum was hosted by the Macau Communication Society and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Cultural and Creative Industries Federation, and co-organised by the University of Saint Joseph. The Forum was held in support of the National Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Strategy and in active cooperation with the Macao Government’s “Plan for Moderate Economic Diversification of Macau SAR (2024-2028)”.
The event was officiated by Director Tsai Cheong Hong, Department of Organization, Planning and Development of the Macau Government Tourism Office, Mr. Gary Zhou, Member of the Macau SAR Administrative Committee, Ms. Vicki Lao, Chairman of the Macau Economic and People’s Livelihood Alliance, Ms. Ally Li, President of the Macau Communication Society, Mr. Kent Wong, Executive President of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Cultural and Creative Industries Federation and Professor Ansoumane Douty Diakité, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Business and Law of USJ, along with more than 100 participants, including experts, scholars, entrepreneurs, students and members of the public from Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao.
Ms Li, President of the Macao Communication Society, emphasised that the cultural tourism convention and exhibition industry is the core industry in Macao and one of the key starting points for Macao’s moderately diversified economic development strategy. Ms Li also added that “in order for the cultural and tourism industry to catch up with the fast-growing trend of digital innovation, the industry needs to play an active role in promoting digital innovation and digital transformation in the cultural, tourism, convention and exhibition industry”. Mr Kent Wong, Executive Director of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Cultural and Creative Industries Federation, added: “There are many intersections between the cultural tourism, convention and exhibition industry and cultural creativity. This includes the interaction between Macao and other cities in the Greater Bay Area, which have started to develop digital innovations in these industries. The digitalisation of the traditional cultural tourism industry will not only provide a richer form of presentation with a wider communication scope, but also a faster dissemination speed”.
After the opening speech, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Cultural and Creative Industry Federation held a strategic MOU signing ceremony with Guangdong Yuanzhan Technology Co, Ltd, the co-organiser of this Forum. The two parties will jointly establish a “Digital Cultural and Creative Innovation Base” in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. The MOU will leverage the advantages of both parties in human resources, scientific research and equipment technology, and enhance the core competitiveness of the digital cultural and creative landscape in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Meanwhile, a strategic cooperation with the University of Saint Joseph through an industry-university-research cooperation model is also in the pipeline to establish the “Sino-Luso Youth Digital Innovation Base”.
The Forum concluded with a roundtable discussion with stakeholders from various industries, chaired by Mr Lin Yuhou, Chairman of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Cultural and Creative Industries Federation. Guests at the roundtable included Ms. Zhang Fengna, Operations Director of Nam Kwong Cultural and Creative Industries Co., Ltd; Macao lawyer, Mai Xingye; Dr. Zhao Dayuan, Vice Chairman of Macau Network and Data Security Society; Mr. Su Jiajie, Vice Chairman of People’s Livelihood Alliance; and Ms. Carina Leong, Senior Manager of External Cooperation and Development Department of Macau Productivity and Technology Transfer Center with a focus on “Risks and Opportunities of Industrial Digitalisation”. The discussion covered topics such as digital economy legislation, opportunities for industrial cooperation and the changing attitudes of Macao’s SMEs towards the digital economy. The Forum provided a lively platform for knowledge sharing and a great venue for dialogue on digital innovation and the transformation of Macao’s cultural tourism, convention and exhibition industry.
