Sands China Ltd, a prominent casino operator in Macau, has embarked on a strategic partnership with Guangdong-Macau Traditional Chinese Medicine Technology Industrial Park Development Co Ltd (GMTCM). This collaboration, formalized through a memorandum of understanding (MoU), aims to enhance the integration of the 'big health' tourism industry across Macau and Hengqin. The initiative is set to leverage the unique strengths of both regions to foster a new era of health-related tourism, diversifying Macau's economy beyond its traditional casino-centric focus.
Strategic Collaboration and Regional Development
The partnership between Sands China and GMTCM is designed to promote regional collaboration, as highlighted in a press release issued by Sands China following the signing ceremony. The two entities are committed to utilizing their respective resources to aid health brands in both Macau and Hengqin in their international expansion efforts. This includes attracting both international and domestic investments to Macau by facilitating collaborations between big health product providers and organizing trade events.
The term 'big health' encompasses a broad range of healthcare and related services, which are pivotal to the economic diversification strategy of Macau and the mainland authorities. Hengqin, designated by China's central government for the '1+4' policy, is poised to become a hub for tourism, big health, modern finance, high-technology business, and conferences and exhibitions, as well as culture and sport.
Vision for the Future of Health Tourism
Grant Chum, the chief executive and executive director of Sands China, expressed his company's honor in being the first among Macau's integrated resort operators to sign an MoU with GMTCM. He emphasized the significant growth potential and vast market scale of the global health tourism industry.
Chum stated, 'Given that the global health tourism industry holds significant growth potential and a vast market scale, we hope to connect our tourism sector with big health by utilizing resources within integrated resorts, organizing conferences and exhibitions, and introducing health tourism products to make Macau a player in this emerging industry.'
Looking forward, Sands China plans to collaborate with GMTCM to establish an industrial chain for the health tourism industry, positioning Macau and Hengqin as premier destinations in this field. The partnership also aims to create opportunities for integrating big health and tourism, leveraging the convenience of the border crossing to facilitate the development of both regions. Potential areas of collaboration include organizing big health trade events to promote the medical, healthcare, and wellness industry in Macau and Hengqin.
These events could encompass professional forums, industrial exhibitions, and international conferences and meetings, aimed at strengthening exchange and interaction between the two regions. Additionally, Sands China and GMTCM are exploring the introduction of big health-related tourism facilities and products at Sands China's resorts and GMTCM Park, to offer premium health management and medical care services to tourists and residents in both regions.
Wu Song, chairman of GMTCM, remarked on the significance of this collaboration, stating, 'This collaboration marks the official launch of in-depth cooperation between the two parties in the field of big health and tourism, carrying profound significance for advancing the cross-sector integration of Macau and Hengqin's 'tourism+' initiatives.'
He further noted the vast potential for collaboration in areas such as product development, service innovation, and market expansion.
Source: Sands China eyes 'big health'-related tourism via new partnership, GGRAsia, May 12, 2025.
Posted by Wizard
May 13 2025
May 13 2025
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