Macau

Fast Facts

Just 6km from the heart of the fun. Besides your wonderful destination choices with Viva Macau you can also catch flights to: Bangkok, Beijing, Brussels, Danang, Ho Chi Minh City, Kaohsiung, Kuala Lumpur, Lisbon, Pyongyang, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, Taipei and other cities in China including Chongqing, Changsha, Dalian, Fuzhou, Hainan, Qingdao, Shenyang, Xi'An, Xiamen, Yantai and Wenzhou.

Visas
All travellers entering or leaving Macau must be holders of valid passports or some others valid travel documents.

Portuguese Nationals with an identity card are permitted to enter the territory without a passport for an unlimited stay.

If travel arrangements are made through an agent, the visa processing is handled by Macau operator.

A. Visas are required by all visitors except:
a) Nationals of Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, India, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, People's Republic of China, Republic of Ireland, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States of America and Uruguay for a stay of less than 20 days;
b) Hong Kong residents with Hong Kong Identity Card can stay in Macau for a period of up to 90 days;

Currency
The currency unit in Macau is the Pataca (MOP). 1 Pataca = 100 avos. Notes are available in MOP1000, 500, 100, 50, 20 and 10. Coins are in denominations of MOP10, 5, 2 and 1, plus the 50, 20 and 10 avos.

Hong Kong dollars are widely accepted in Macau.

Credit Cards
Visa and Master Card are generally accepted at most mid-range and above restaurants and shops. Some stores also accept American Express card. Although it is illegal (or rather against credit card company policy), some stores will still add a service charge to credit charge purchase. In those cases, you can report back to the respective credit card company; but it is a common practice in Macau and in Hong Kong. Most small or family-run shops only accept cash payments.

Useful Numbers
Emergency 999
Police Department 91
Fire Deparment 572-222
Ambulance 577-199
Weather Enquiry (Portuguese) 911
Time Enquiry 140
Telephone Enquiry 181

Electricity
Usually 220 volts AC, 50Hz.

Health Risks
International Innoculation Certificates are not normally required unless cholera has been detected either in Hong Kong or Macau or in the area recently visited by the arrival.

Tap water is generally regarded as safe, but bottled water may be advisable for the first few days. Milk is pasteurised, but avoid dairy products which are likely to have been made from unboiled milk. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled.

Diarrhoeal diseases, hepatitis A, hepatitis B and Oriental lung fluke (paragonimiasis) may occur in this area.

Health care: Health insurance is recommended. There are good medical facilities, and religious orders or hotels will also give assistance.

Time Zone
GMT + 8.

Holidays
2006
1 Jan - New Year's Day
29 - 31 Jan - Chinese New Year Holidays
5 Apr - Ching Ming
14 - 15 - Apr Easter Holidays
1 May - Labour Day
5 May - Feast of Buddha (Feast of the Bathing of Lord Buddha, Feast of the Drunken Dragon, Tam Kong Festival )
31 May - Dragon Boat Festival (Tun Ng Festival)
1 Oct - National Day of the People's Republic of China
2 Oct - The Day Following National Day of the PRC
7 Oct - The Day Following Mid Autumn Festival
30 Oct - Festival of Ancestors (Chung Yeung Festival)
2 Nov - All Souls Day
8 Dec - Feast of Immaculate Conception
20 Dec - Macau Special Administrative Region Establishment Day
22 Dec - Winter Solstice
24 25 Dec - Christmas Holidays

Climate
The climate is moderate to hot, with an average annual temperature of just over 20°C (68°F) and a yearly mean variation between 16°C (50°F) and 25°C (77°F). The humidity is high with an average range between 75% and 90%. Rainfall is also high with the yearly total between 40 and 80 ins. The best season is autumn (October - December) when days are sunny and warm and the humidity is low. The winter (January - March) is cold but sunny. In April, the humidity starts to build up and from May to September the climate is hot and humid with rain and occasional tropical storms (typhoons).

Clothing
It is usually casual even in the casinos. Cotton or light clothing is recommended for the Summer. Woolen clothing and occasionally even a top-coat is required for the Winter. Sweaters and jackets are sometimes necessary for the cooler evenings in March-May and September-November.

GDP Growth Rate
4% (2003 est.)

Inflation
-2.6% (2003 est.)

Imports
Commodities: raw materials, foodstuffs, capital goods, fuels, consumer goods

Exports
Commodities: textiles, clothing, toys, electronics, cement, footwear, machinery

Trading Partners
US, EU, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan

Industries
Clothing, textiles, toys, electronics, footwear, tourism, gambling

Teledensity
38.87% (1996)

Government
Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China since 1999. Head of State: President Jiang Zemin since 1999. Head of Government: Chief Executive Edmund H W Ho.

Geography
Macau is located on the southeastern coast of China, at latitude 22° 14' North and longitude 113° 35' East. The territory comprises a peninsula and two islands in the Pearl River delta of Guangdong Province. Some 60kms to the northeast, across the mouth of the river, is HongKong, an important financial and trading centre.

The city of Macau is built on the peninsula; two bridges of 2.5kms and 4.5kms respectively link it to its nearest island of Taipa, which in turn is joined to Coloane by a 2.2km-long causeway. At the extreme northern end of the peninsula, on a narrow isthmus, is the imposing gateway (Portas do Cerco, or Border Gate), which leads to the Zhuhai and Zhongshan areas of China.

Population
430,549 (1998)

Ethnic Groups
95% of the population Chinese and 5% Portuguese, Europeans and from other regions.

Languages
The official languages are Chinese (Cantonese) and Portuguese. English is widely spoken by those engaged in trade, tourism and commerce.

Literacy
Age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 90%

Religion
The main religions are Buddhism, Roman Catholicism and Protestantism. The majority are Buddhists while seven per cent are Catholics.