Adhering to the philosophy of “what is taken from the community is to be used for the community”, leading Macau integrated resort operator Galaxy Entertainment Group (GEG) organized nearly 150 members from various local organizations to participate in its GEG Maritime Tours in December last year.

The GEG Maritime Tours welcomed member families from several local organizations, including Students from the Bachelor of Science in Cultural and Heritage Management Program from the Macao Institute for Tourism Studies, members and families of the Macao Heritage Ambassadors Association, Macau Federation of Trade Unions, Macao New Chinese Youth Association, Macao Gaming Industry Employees Home, Association of Parents of the People with Intellectual Disabilities of Macau, Richmond Fellowship of Macau, Association of Rehabilitation of Drug Abusers of Macau, Macau Down Syndrome Association and the Macau Autism Association.

The tour, accompanied by members of the GEG Volunteer Team, departed from Barra Pier near A-Ma Temple and sailed to the Coloane Pier. It also included a visit to the Lai Chi Vun Shipyard area, where a professional guide provided a lively and informative narration of Coloane’s history and Macau’s development. GEG tailored additional activities for each participating group, including on-site exhibitions, weekend markets, stall games, festive gift boxes and other activities, providing participants with a relaxed and enjoyable experience with a unique perspective on Macau.

GEG told New Macau that it aims to facilitate community interaction and social inclusion through these activities, extending love and care to different social groups. The events also serve to deepen public understanding of Macau’s maritime and shipbuilding history and culture, contributing to the preservation and dissemination of this unique aspect of local culture.

The Lai Chi Vun Shipyard area, a heritage area retaining various aspects of shipbuilding crafts, is the only extant shipbuilding industry site in Macau relatively intact, and a testimony to the past urban development, industrialization and lifestyle of Macau. In September 2023, the SAR government announced a joint effort with GEG to revitalize this historic area and turn it into a cultural landmark themed around the shipbuilding industry on Coloane island.