Las Vegas Versus Macao as Diversified Travel Destinations

Events and festivals can help attract people to a destination, and this study was to examine how events and festivals can build and diversify tourism. With their programs of pleasurable activities and entertainment, events and festivals have a historical trajectory of delivering development outcomes such as economic restructuring and tourism revenue generation. In addition, events and festivals can provide an opportunity for a leisure, social, or cultural experience that is outside the normal range of visitors’ choices. Furthermore, events and festivals can raise market awareness and boost the local economy. Based on secondary data from books, research papers, and websites, this study compared Macao and Las Vegas in their events and festivals, visitor data, and expenditure data. The findings indicate that Macao is primarily a day-trip destination for gaming and shopping, with a narrow base of customers mostly from China and Hong Kong. On the other hand, Las Vegas seems to be more diversified in events and festivals, and its visitors are younger and more international. Events and festivals have played a major role in the growth and diversity of tourism for Las Vegas. On the other hand, Macao lags far behind Las Vegas in quantity and variety of events and festivals, but it can learn from the Las Vegas experience and diversify its tourism though continued development of festivals and events

Lessons from the Junket Business in Atlantic City and in Macao

Although junket operators can help casino operators secure business from premium patrons, there has been limited study of this topic in the academic literature. Recent junket business developments in Atlantic City (the most strictly regulated jurisdiction in the US), and in Macao (the world’s largest gambling market) have led to new insights and understandings of the junket business, and this paper identifies key lessons learned from these two major casino markets. The qualitative research interview was adopted due to the under-researched nature of the junket business. This study is based on the institutional theory to analyze human interactions and activities in terms of overt or implicit rules involved in the junket business. A review of the literature and interview findings indicates that junket operators may play a more important role with the economic slowdown, since their business is focused on bringing patrons from strong regional or national economies. This can be achieved by adopting certain location-specific strategies to match changes in the regional market. Diversified product offerings, rather than price reductions, are critical to entice premium patrons in the face of increasing casinos in nearby region. Despite the economic contribution of the junket business, some junket practices might be perceived as exploitative of patrons. Apart from the appropriate balance between the public policy to minimize social costs and an appropriate regulatory standard, a jurisdiction needs to consider such local contexts as its unique culture and junket operators’ intention to promote their interest, in order to better regulate the junket business

Why has Macao attracted the world-record gaming revenue?

Macao, located on the southeast coast of China, is perfectly situated to receive patrons from China about thirty years after its open-door policy in 1978 when they have accumulated significant amounts of wealth. With its gaming liberalization and the supply of such mainland Chinese patrons, Macao has become the world’s gambling capital since 2007. This article aims to analyze the major factors leading to this dominant economic performance. The experience of the mainland Chinese in the Cultural Revolution and the Era of the Gang of Four has motivated them to get rich quick to enjoy the material comforts that they have been deprived. Given that baccarat has a low house edge and is easy to play, many mainland Chinese like to play baccarat in Macao. Moreover, the interaction with the card afforded by baccarat, makes patrons feel that that they can control over the gambling outcome, and this fits the mainland Chinese psychology in their attempt to win much and quick with their high stakes.   On the other hand, casinos have trained croupiers to make their patrons stay longer, including being polite, identifying the emotional status of patrons, managing patrons’ emotions and regulating the croupiers’ own emotions. In this way, casinos in Macao not only can make patrons experience sovereignty while in control of the staff-client interactions, but also help Macao attract the world-record gaming revenue

Macao Gaming Concession System: Present and Future Direction

Macao gaming concession is about to expire in June 2022, and such issues as the number of concessions and contract period have attracted much attention. This article introduces the evolution of Macao gaming system with emphasis on its concession duration, legal limit on the number of concessions, asset disposal and tax rate. As a result of its gaming liberalization, Macao has developed into the world’s casino capital. The gaming situation in Macao and in the gaming jurisdictions nearby is different from what it was twenty years ago. Although the current law requires a new public tender for awarding concessions, the increased number of gaming jurisdictions to target Macao would entail adjustment in its public policies to keep its gaming industry competitive. Additionally, the evolution of the relevant public policies and their interactions with touristic, infrastructural, environmental and urban planning policies would likely lead to some changes in the core of the current Macao gaming legislation. The authors indicated that the emergence of subconcessions and satellite casinos, the fractioning of spaces and utilities by different entities regarding asset reversion to the government, and the relationship between concessionaires and junket operators are some major issues, which require an improved legal framework designed to react expeditiously and effectively to the fast-moving industry for a sustained and consistent upward regulatory trajectory. Following this, revising and improving the current concession model would be crucial, even though it implies changes to the core of the current Macao gaming legislation

El entretenimiento, la cultura y la marca de la ciudad sin juegos de Macao

Although entertainment can be a pull-factor to attract tourists in their trips, it can be easily duplicated in other jurisdictions. Focused on the nongaming entertainment by the gaming concessionaires in Macao, this paper examines the entertainment development, and explores how these concessionaires identify the right entertainment for patrons and the challenges associated with such entertainment offerings. Despite Macao’s wealth of East-West culture, this study analyzes the use of such culture in Macao’s entertainment, and the creation of its unique branding. The integration of culture into such entertainment, when coupled with Macao’s smallness, may represent the essential factors to satisfy tourists’ multiple needs for entertainment products, thereby leading to Macao’s renewed branding as a center of tourism and leisure from its strong gaming image. This study is one of a few that focuses on the merger of culture and entertainment, and is exploratory and qualitative in nature. Semistructured in-depth interviews with executives in Macao’s entertainment segment were utilized. Such interview findings were analyzed using the Miles and Huberman (1994) framework, along with the data from the annual reports of the concessionaires and the Macao Census and Statistics Service. The findings may be useful for gaming destinations planning to alter their brandingAunque el entretenimiento puede ser un factor de atracción para atraer a los turistas en sus viajes, puede duplicarse fácilmente en otras jurisdicciones. Centrado en el entretenimiento sin juegos de los concesionarios de juegos en Macao, este documento examina el desarrollo del entretenimiento y explora cómo estos concesionarios identifican el entretenimiento adecuado para los clientes y los desafíos asociados con tales ofertas de entretenimiento. A pesar de la riqueza de la cultura Este-Oeste de Macao, este estudio analiza el uso de dicha cultura en el entretenimiento de Macao y la creación de su marca única. La integración de la cultura en dicho entretenimiento, junto con la pequeñez de Macao, puede representar los factores esenciales para satisfacer las múltiples necesidades de productos de entretenimiento de los turistas. lo que lleva a la renovación de la marca de Macao como centro de turismo y ocio a partir de su sólida imagen de juego. Este estudio es uno de los pocos que se centran en la fusión de la cultura y el entretenimiento, y es de naturaleza exploratoria y cualitativa. Se utilizaron entrevistas en profundidad semiestructuradas con ejecutivos del segmento de entretenimiento de Macao. Estos resultados de las entrevistas se analizaron utilizando el marco de Miles y Huberman (1994), junto con los datos de los informes anuales de los concesionarios y el Servicio de Censos y Estadísticas de Macao. Los hallazgos pueden ser útiles para los destinos de juego que planean modificar su marca. Estos resultados de las entrevistas se analizaron utilizando el marco de Miles y Huberman (1994), junto con los datos de los informes anuales de los concesionarios y el Servicio de Censos y Estadísticas de Macao. Los hallazgos pueden ser útiles para los destinos de juego que planean modificar su marca. Estos resultados de las entrevistas se analizaron utilizando el marco de Miles y Huberman (1994), junto con los datos de los informes anuales de los concesionarios y el Servicio de Censos y Estadísticas de Macao. Los hallazgos pueden ser útiles para los destinos de juego que planean modificar su marc

Five-year effectiveness of short messaging service (SMS) for pre-diabetes

Abstract Objective An observational post-randomized controlled trial (RCT) design was adopted to evaluate the long-term sustainability and maintenance of improved glycemic control, lipid profile, reduced progression to diabetes at 3-year following a 2-year short messaging service (SMS). We performed a naturalistic follow-up to the 104 participants of SMS intervention, a 2-year randomized controlled trial comparing the SMS to non-SMS for pre-diabetes. All participants were arranged screening for diabetes at 5-year assessment. Primary outcome of this post-RCT study was cumulative incidence of diabetes whereas secondary outcomes were the change in biometric data over a 5-year period. Results After a mean 57-month follow-up, 19 (18.3%) were lost to follow-up after the RCT period. Progression to diabetes occurred in 20 and 16 patients among the intervention and control group respectively, with no significant between-group difference (8.06 and 7.31 cases per 100 person years, respectively; Hazard Ratio in the intervention group, 1.184; 95% confidence interval, 0.612 to 2.288; p-value = 0.616). No significant effect of SMS on reduction in diabetes was observed in overall and pre-defined subgroups. The SMS intervention preserved the clinical benefits within the trial period but failed to transform from treatment efficacy to long-term effectiveness beyond 2 years after intervention. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT01556880, retrospectively registered on March 16, 201

A short message service (SMS) intervention to prevent diabetes in Chinese professional drivers with pre-diabetes: A pilot single-blinded randomized controlled trial

Aim: To determine the efficacy of delivering short-message service (SMS) to provide diabetes-related information in reducing the risk of developing diabetes in Chinese professional drivers with pre-diabetes. Methods: A pilot single-blinded randomized controlled trial was conducted in Hong Kong between 05/2009 and 04/2012. Professional drivers with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) were randomly allocated to either a SMS group receiving messages comprising knowledge and lifestyle modification on diabetes or to a control group with usual care. Primary outcomes were the incidence rate of diabetes mellitus over 12 and 24 months period. Results: Fifty-four, out of 104 professional drivers recruited, were randomly allocated to intervention group. Fewer subjects developed diabetes at 12 months in intervention group (5.56%) compared to control group (16.00%). Relative risk (RR) of diabetes onset was 0.35 (95%CI: 0.10-1.24) and the number needed to treat (NNT) for preventing one diabetes was 9.57. At 24 months, RR increased to 0.62 (95%CI: 0.24-1.61) with a NNT of 10.58. Logistic regression showed a significant odds ratio of 0.04 (P= 0.021) for intervention group compared to control group at 12-month follow-up for completers and a non-significant odds ratio of 0.34 (P= 0.303) at 24-month follow-up. Conclusions: The SMS program proved to have potential to reduce the risk of developing diabetes at 12 months but additional measures should be integrated to prevent or delay disease progression. © 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd.link_to_subscribed_fulltex