Macao is attracting increasing visitors from both mainland and the rest of the world as the special administrative region (SAR) keeps promoting its characteristic sport events and strengthening its status as a world-famous tourism and leisure hub.
In the Policy Address for the Fiscal Year 2024, Macao regional government said it plans to build the region into a city of sport with at least two international sport events being held in Macao every month.
The SAR has been hosting a series of special sport contests including Macao Motorcycle Grand Prix, Macao International Marathon, WTT Champions Macao, and Macao International Dragon Boat Races.
As one of the most long-standing sport events held in Macao, Macao Motorcycle Grand Prix stands as a prime example of the business model of "tourism plus sports." The annual contest features races and various other colorful activities, which help attract worldwide car race fans and boost revenues of Macao's tourism.
Fifty-two-year-old British motorcyclist Michael Rutter, who finished 4th in November's race and had won nine crowns in the Macao Motorcycle Grand Prix said as a race participator he had witnessed the fast and massive changes of Macao over the past three decades.
"It's 30 years since I was first in Macao. So, it's my 30-year anniversary. Coming back, it (Macao Motorcycle Grand Prix) has changed massively, like the city, but the track hasn't changed a lot. When you race a motorcycle, you look everywhere. You don't just look at the track. Macao keeps changing but the circuit hasn't changed. It's very much the same," he said in a documentary titled "25 Years of Lotus Bond" released on Saturday by the China Media Group (CMG) to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland.
The documentary comprises five thematic episodes: Love for the Home and the Nation, A Path of Diversity, The Flavor of Happiness, A City of Integration, and Gateway to the Future. It highlights the successful practices of "one country, two systems" in Macao under the strategic guidance of the central government.
The Chinese government resumed sovereignty over Macao and established the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) on December 20, 1999.
Brand sport events add luster to burgeoning tourism in Macao
Switzerland, known for its pristine lakes and rich tradition of fishing, is facing a significant challenge of plunging fish stocks that could threaten the livelihood of many in the fisheries industry.
In recent years, local fishermen have seen their catches decline drastically, with about 90 percent of the fish consumed in the country now being imported. This shift reflects broader environmental changes impacting Swiss fisheries, and the difficulties local fishermen are enduring are becoming more evident each year.
At seven in the morning, as the first light of dawn begins to break, a handful of fishermen at a dock in Geneva prepare to head out to the lake to check the nets they set the previous day. As the long nets were hauled from the water, the catch of perch was relatively small, but the fishermen were still satisfied, especially since they managed to net two large pike, which would fetch a good price.
Francois Liani, a fisherman of 30 years, said 2024 has been the worst year for fishing with the lowest amount of catch.
"I have never seen anything like this in over 30 years. That's right, 2024 is the worst year in the past 30 years," he said.
Fifty years ago, there were more than 800 professional fishermen in Switzerland. Today, that number has dropped to fewer than 90.
"There are many reasons, but one of the most important reasons is global warming -- it is one of the biggest problems. We have also new mussels that come from the Black Sea on the Eastern Europe that came about five, seven years ago. They have a large impact on the food availability for the fishes," said Maxime Prevedello, communication officer for the French-speaking region of the Swiss Fishing Federation (SFV).
As a result, the growth rate of fish has slowed significantly. In 2012, 2013, and 2014, a professional fisherman was able to catch around 1,000 tons of fish annually. Today, that number has dropped to just around 100 tons -- a mere one-tenth of what it used to be, according to Prevedello.
In the summer of 2024, Switzerland once again endured high temperatures. Native fish species such as perch, grayling, and the Alpine char, which have adapted to cold water, have been particularly affected. According to Switzerland's environmental authorities, 58 percent of the country's native fish species are now classified as endangered.
Swiss fishermen face growing struggle as local fish stocks plunge
