AIR MACAU PROMOTES MACAU AS STAND-ALONE DESTINATION.

TAIPEI, July 1 Asia Pulse - To cope with the new challenges that will arise with the launch of nonstop weekend charter flights between Taiwan and China, Air Macau is ready to promote Macau as a destination in its own right through attractive offers, Jo Wu, manager of the airline's marketing department, said Monday.

The weekend direct cross-strait charter flights are scheduled to take off Friday, based on accords signed in Beijing on June 13 by Taiwan and China. A total of 36 flights will be operated by Taiwan airlines and China carriers on the direct route. This means that passengers traveling between the two sides of the strait on weekends will no longer be obliged to go via Hong Kong or Macau.

However, in order to sustain the Taiwan-Macau route, on which Air Macau operates 12 flights daily, Wu said the carrier is offering different packages to promote the idea that Macau is more than just a transit point.

"We at Air Macau hope that the packages and offers will enhance Macau's tourism, " Wu told the CNA. "Air Macau must make greater efforts to promote Macau amid the launch of the cross-strait nonstop charter flights."

Wu mentioned a package that offers a discount of NT$1,000 (US$33) to each passenger traveling in a groups four, saying that it was well received in June and that the airline will continue the promotional offers.

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