Date
- Sep 13 2025
Time
Macao Time- 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm
Languages

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Vong Chuk Kwan, Fanny is Rector of the Macao University of Tourism (UTM). She sits on Macao SAR Government’s Tourism Development Committee, Talent Development Committee, and Education Committee. UTM is a public institution of higher education in Macao that offers undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes and professional training in tourism and hospitality. UTM has won international acclaims for the quality of its programmes, established a vast international network and built good relationship with the industry. Dr. Vong has participated in numerous tourism research and training projects initiated by the local government and intergovernmental organizations such as United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and UN Tourism. |
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Ms. Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes came on board the Marketing Department of the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) in 1988, and throughout the years organized and participated in various local, Mainland and overseas tourism exhibitions, conferences, seminars and promotional activities. In September 1998, she became Deputy Director, carrying on her dedication to destination marketing, and was appointed as MGTO Director in December 2012, before receiving the Medal of Merit for Tourism from the Macao Special Administrative Region Government in 2016. She is a current member of the following committees of the Macao SAR Government: Tourism Development Committee, Economic Development Committee, Cultural Development Consultative Committee, Urban Planning Committee and Investment Committee. She also acts as Macao SAR (China) Focal Point to the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, a life member of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), as well as a current member of the Supervisory Board - Finance and Elections of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA). |
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Prof. Kam Hung is a professor at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. She has been researching Chinese behavior and psychology in tourism and hospitality for nearly two decades. She has had 150 publications in referred international journals, conferences, and books. She was named as a 2024 Top Scholar by ScholarGPS and the World’s Top 2% Most-Cited Scientists (Single Year) in 2021, 2022, and 2023 based on the Stanford University-led compilation of citation indicators covering over 100,000 top scientists in the field of Sport, Leisure, and Tourism. |
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Mr. Rutger Verschuren is Area Vice President, Macau and Hengqin, at Artyzen Hospitality Group, overseeing key properties including Artyzen Grand Lapa Macau and Artyzen Habitat Hengqin Zhuhai. He previously served as COO of Shun Tak Holdings’ Hospitality Division and Managing Director of Sheraton Macao Hotel, Cotai Strip. With some four decades in hospitality, Rutger has held senior roles across Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, including Vice President of Operations at Dusit International. A Dutch national, he holds a Business Administration degree from Hotelschool The Hague and is a Certified Hotel Administrator. Rutger is active in Macau’s tourism development, serving as Council member of Macao University of Tourism (UTM) and holding leadership roles in regional chambers and associations. |
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Mr. Stephen Liao has valuable hospitality industry experience working in the Food & Beverage Department at Zhuhai Regency Hotel and at the front desk of Zhuhai Wansheng Country Club. Since 2001, he has been working in the travel agency industry, initially serving as a full-time trilingual tour guide (Chinese-English-Cantonese) handling both inbound and outbound tourism. Currently, he holds the position of Director for both the International Travel Department and Customized Travel Department at China Travel Service Gongbei Port Guangdong Co., Ltd. His expertise lies in comprehensive customized travel services for both inbound and outbound markets, with extensive experience in group operations and multi-country travel experiences. |
![]() | Fanny Vong Moderator |
![]() | Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes Panelist |
![]() | Kam Hung Panelist |
![]() | Rutger Verschuren Panelist |
![]() | Stephen Liao Panelist |
Local Time
- Timezone: America/New_York
- Date: Sep 13 2025
- Time: 5:00 am - 6:30 am
Volume 72
The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) in southern China is a major economic hub comprising Hong Kong, Macao, and nine Guangdong cities including Guangzhou and Shenzhen. Spanning 56,000 km², with a population of 87 million and a GDP exceeding RMB 14 trillion in 2024, the region is guided by the 2019 Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area to foster integrated socioeconomic growth. A central objective is to develop the GBA into a worldclass tourism destination by leveraging distinctive local resources, enhancing regional synergy, and promoting a unified brand. This webinar explores the associated opportunities and challenges from the perspectives of government tourism authorities, practitioners, and academic scholars, offering insights into cross-border collaboration and sustainable tourism development.
Kazem Vafadari
Kam Hung
Rutger Verschuren
Stephen Liao
Kazem Vafadari
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