The "mini-three-links" passenger sea routes connecting east China's Fujian Province with the Taiwan-administered Kinmen and Matsu islands have handled more than one million trips this year as of Saturday, surging by 87.6 percent year on year.
Among them, the route between Fujian's Xiamen City and Kinmen County handled more than 5,000 trips on Oct 13 alone, a record high for single-day passenger traffic since the resumption of the ferry service in 2023, according to statistics from the Xiamen Entry and Exit Border Inspection Station.
Known as "the golden passage" connecting the Chinese mainland and the Taiwan region, the "mini-three-links" accounts for over 95 percent of customs clearance in Fujian.
By far, all four "mini-three-links" passenger sea routes -- namely Xiamen-Kinmen, Quanzhou-Kinmen, Fuzhou-Nangan and Fuzhou-Beigan -- have seen a surge from 26 trips per week to a maximum of 182 trips per week.
"Mini three links" sea routes see over 1 mln passenger trips in 2024
Macao has been emerging as a global hub for conventions and exhibitions in recent years by exploring the enormous opportunities in the sector, driving the region to advance its economic diversification and embrace a brighter future.
Macao has received many awards this year, such as the Best Convention City (Asia) and the Best BT-MICE City, showcasing the recognition for and influence of Macao's exhibition industry.
More than 1,000 electronic game enthusiasts from all over the world gathered recently in Macao to participate in a esports themed event.
Su Zhili, organizer of the event, said that Macao's rich experience in hosting large-scale events, coupled with its good infrastructure, has driven him to choose the region as an ideal destination to hold such an activity.
"Macao has held many similar large-scale events. It has rich experience, and the facilities at the venue are relatively mature, so we can start our work comfortably," said Su.
During the first three quarters of 2024, Macao held more than 1,000 conferences and exhibitions in total.
"We will invite more professional, special conferences to be held in Macao and also cultivate more exhibition brands with international influence in Macao, so as to promote Macao's exhibitions to be more market-oriented, professional, international, digital and greener from various aspects. This is our goal," said Elaine Wong, member of the Macao Commerce and Investment Promotion Institute.
In addition, multiple large exhibitions and conferences, such as the Macao International Trade and Investment fair, the Macao Franchise Expo, and the International Infrastructure Investment and Construction Forum, are held regularly in Macao.
With the introduction of a series of policies and measures to facilitate the exchanges between the mainland and Macao, as well as the construction and development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, Macao's convention and exhibition industry will embrace more opportunities for development in the foreseeable future.
"We have such a good industrial base in the Greater Bay Area. The mode of 'Convention and Exhibition + Industry' not only integrates the industries of Macao, but also the industries of the Greater Bay Area. In addition, Macao actively integrates into the national development and plays a role in the Belt and Road. Why are we so confident in Macao's convention and exhibition sector? Because it is backed by the motherland, and the country gives Macao great support," said Alan Ho, chairman of the Macao Association of Convention, Exhibition and Tourism Sectors.
Macao emerges as global hub for conventions and exhibitions, driving economic diversification and international recognition
