The Government has set up a committee to advance the work of transforming Macao to a world centre for tourism and leisure, according to an Executive Order published today in the Macao SAR Gazette.

The Committee for Development of the World Centre for Tourism and Leisure will be responsible for drafting a blueprint plan for tourism development for the next five years. The Committee will conduct research and advise on policies to help transform Macao to a world centre for tourism and leisure.

The new body will set up a mechanism to annually review the plan. It will also advise on other related topics, according to the Executive Order.

The Committee is chaired by the Chief Executive. It includes: the Secretary for Economy and Finance; the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture; the Secretary for Transport and Public Works; the Chief-of-Office of the Chief Executive’s Office; the Government Spokesperson; two representatives from the Chief Executive’s Office; and two members from the Policy Research Office.

The Executive Order states that the Chairman of the Committee may invite experts in different fields and representatives from the public and private sectors to join the works of the Committee or its meetings whenever deemed necessary.

The Chief Executive’s Office will provide administrative, technical and logistic support to the Committee. The Committee’s budget will come from the Chief Executive’s Office.