Greater Bay Area Forum Focuses on New Directions for the Integration of Health Tourism, Logistics and Transport

MACAU, November 29 - In recent years, the “Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area” and the “Overall Plan for the Construction of the Hengqin Guangdong-Macao Deep Cooperation Zone,” issued by the State Council, have provided important guidance on the development of leisure tourism and the health industry. To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Macao Special Administrative Region, the “Greater Bay Area Health Tourism, Services, and Integrated Logistics Development Forum”, hosted by the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport in Macao and co-organised by the Macao University of Tourism (UTM) as the principal partner, was successfully held at UTM’s Mong-Há campus on 29 November. The event also featured an online livestream, attracting over 120 participants on-site, including representatives from government departments, industry experts, associations, and universities. The forum covered multiple integrated fields such as supply chain, transportation, healthcare, wellness, services, and tourism.

The forum opened with a speech by Mr. Ng Sio In, President of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport in Macao and Dr. Zhao Weibing, Dean of the Faculty of Creative Tourism and Intelligent Technologies of UTM. President Ng pointed out that the health tourism and logistics industries are in a stage of rapid development, with new technologies and models continuously emerging. The experts and elites present were treated to a feast of knowledge and engaged in a collision and exchange of ideas. Dean Zhao noted that to promote the development of health tourism, tourist destinations must possess advanced medical services, comprehensive facilities for accommodation, dining, travel, shopping, entertainment, and a sound policy and service system, all supported by efficient logistics and supply chains. By leveraging their respective industry strengths, a wonderful health tourism experience can be created for visitors.

During the forum, Dr. Edmundo Patricio Lopes Lao, President of the Doctoral Think Tank and Fellow of the Macao Academy of Medicine, delivered a keynote speech on the development and opportunities of medical tourism in Macao. Additionally, in the professional panel discussion focusing on the business environment for health tourism and services in the Greater Bay Area, three partners from PwC—Mr. Bernard Li, Ms. Cynthia Lin, and Ms. Cindy Lau—shared their professional insights on the health tourism business environment and tax incentives. Moreover, Dr. Jenny Guan, Assistant Professor at UTM, mentioned that to align with industry development and market demand, the university will launch a Master’s programme named “Luxury Hospitality and Health Service Management” in the 2025/2026 academic year to cultivate interdisciplinary talent. Following this, Professor Tang Huajun, Assistant Dean of the School of Business at Macau University of Science and Technology, introduced health tourism from a supply chain perspective. Dr. Lam Soi Hoi, Council Chairman of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport in Macao, discussed the ideal design plan for optimising health tourism pathways in Taipa. Dr. Hu Jianyao, Chief Researcher at the National Automotive Electronics Quality Testing Center, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, presented the latest technology on “Smart Connected Vehicles and Flying Cars: Integrating Land and Air for Future Mobility.” Finally, Dr. Liu Lizi, Director of the Urban Culture Research Institute at the Guangzhou Academy of Social Sciences, shared her professional views on the prospects of high-end elderly care services and logistics support in the Guangdong-Macao Deep Cooperation Zone. Through the discussion and sharing, the forum aimed to inspire new insights and approaches to jointly promote innovation and progress in the health tourism and logistics sectors.

The forum’s supporting partners included the Doctoral Think Tank, the Macau Chinese Medical Association, the Logistics and Supply Chain Innovation Alliance of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and the Macau Hoteliers & Innkeepers Association; it was sponsored by the Macao Foundation.