Conference venue
The events will be held at the:
Asia Gender and Internet Governance Exchange (June 29-30, 2015)
Floor C705 Macau Productivity and Technology Transfer Center (CPTTM)
Address: Rua de Xanga 175, Ed. ACM, 6-7 andar Macau
Phone: (853) 2878 1313
Asia-Pacific Regional Internet Governance Forum (July 1- 3, 2015)
Macau University of Science & Technology (MUST)
Address: Avenida Wai Long,Taipa,Macau
Tel.: (853) 2888 1122
Accomodation
Address: Sands Cotai Central, Estr. do Istmo, Macau
Phone: (853) 288-2228
Arrival & Departures: airport terminals and transfers in Macau
1. AIRPORT TERMINAL: You will be arriving at Macau International Airport which is located on Taipa Island, 20 minutes from the city centre.
2. GENERAL ARRIVAL PROCEDURE: Similar to other airports, just prepare your passport along with the following filled up documents: arrival card, customs slip, and possibly a health declaration card.
3 . TRANSFERS: There are several possible transfer options from the Macau International Airport to the hotel that you will be staying in. However, we recommend that you take the complimentary Shuttle buses from the airport to your accommodation, as this is the most convenient.
SHUTTLE BUS. Walk toward the north exit of the airport and walk out into the parking lot, where you will find a number of shuttle buses waiting for you. Buses depart every 15-20 minutes between 10:00 am and 10:30 pm. Please make sure to take the Bus that goes to the Sands Cotai area or say that you are bound for the Holiday Inn Cotai.
PUBLIC BUSES. You can also opt to ride one of the many public buses from the airport to the city. Fare from the airport is at MOP$6.00. These buses cross the city and stop at the major hotels.
TAXIS. Similar to buses, you can also ride a taxi to go to your hotel. Taxi fares are at MOP$15 for the first 1.6km and MOP$1.50 for every 230km additional. A surcharge of MOP$5 is charged. Each piece of luggage carried in the trunk costs MOP$3.
4. DEPARTURE TAX: Passengers aged two years and over are required to pay MOP$90 (about US$12) airport departure tax. In most cases, this is already included in the cost of your airfare.
Food arrangements and medical concerns
MEALS. Breakfast will be provided by the hotel you will be staying in. For meals outside, there are a lot of restaurants and food choices around the vicinity of the hotels.
SPECIAL DIETARY NEEDS. If you have particular dietary requirements (halal, vegetarian, etc.) or food allergies, please inform the organizers immediately so that special arrangements with the hotel can be made to try and meet your requirements.
MEALS IN TRANSIT. Transit food costs (i.e. during travel days), unless otherwise specified by the organizers, is for the account of each participant.
MEDICAL CONCERNS. If you have special medical concerns, it is advised that you bring your necessary supporting documents/prescriptions if you plan to buy your medicines here. Many drugstores are easily accessible. However, to avoid complications, it is advisable to bring your own medication needed for the duration of your trip.
Internet connectivity and mobile phones
WI-FI INTERNET. Macau has extensive free Wi-Fi coverage throughout the city known as the wifigo system.You can access free public Wi-Fi in select government premises, tourist hotspots and public areas. Most cafes and hotels in Macau have free Wi-Fi as well.
You can buy prepaid phone cards (ranging from MOP$50 to MOP$130) to use mobile broadband. You can also opt to purchase a mobile broadband pass for unlimited internet access for 1 day (MOP$120) or 5 days (MOP$220).
MOBILES and PHONES. Prepaid SIM Cards are available from Companhia de Telecomunicações de Macau (CTM) for MOP$50 (for local calls) and MOP$50/100/130 (with IDD and international roaming), which allow internet access through mobile broadband.There are several CTM branches in Macau.
Local calls are free from private telephones, public payphone costs MOP$1 for 5 minutes. Most hotels charge MOP$3. All telephones in hotels or public kiosks have IDD service.
The Country code of Macau is+853.When calling an international number from Macau, you should first dial 00 and then add 853 and the number you want to call.
Per diems
We are allocating an amount to cover meals not provided for at the hotel and the conference venues. Please coordinate with FMA Staff whose names appear below for this.
Per Diems do not require any documentation, but we will ask you to sign the per diem schedule for the amount received.
The reimbursement schedule contains details of per diems for participants, based on their arrival and departure dates. If there are changes to schedules, or, if participants have a late departure on the day they leave and therefore require a per diem for lunch/refreshments, minor adjustments can be made provided notes are kept on changes.
Travel Reimbursements
The following costs will be reimbursed but you would have to submit the original/official receipts or vouchers of the following:
LOCAL TRANSPORTATION.This is for transportation from the participant’s home to airport and return i.e. (country of origin). No cash reimbursement will be given for local transportation in Macau.
If receipts or ticket stubs for local transportation costs are not available, the participants will have to sign a cash voucher form indicating the route and the cost as well. Maximum claim for transport that can be reimbursed without supporting documentation is US$40.
AIRFARES. Most flights have been booked and paid for by APC. Agreements have been made to reimburse a few participants for flight costs as they are relatively small. These details are provided on the reimbursement schedule. Supporting documentation is required for submission and must be given on site.
If supporting documentation has not been provided either electronically, or handed-over on-site, reimbursement in cash cannot be made.
VISA FEE. For Bangladeshi, Nepalese, Nigerian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan and Vietnamese participant/s only.
*Visa Documentation. Official receipts from the embassy and/or a photocopy of a visa stamp with cost indicated. If the cost is not indicated in the visa stamp, the participant will have to provide a printed copy of the embassy website or list of requirements that shows the visa fee. Also a copy of the visa page in the passport will have to be included.
APC shall not cover the following costs: passport fees, visa or passport photos, penalty charges, hotel and per diems arising from the changes in flight bookings or personal decision to change or use another mode of transport; excess baggage, laundry, mini‐bar, pay television, communication costs (internet, e‐mail, telephone or mobile and fax), meals out of the group and all other personal expenses.
All other related expenses incurred before the 28th of June and after the 4th of July 2015 will not be covered.
Other logistical concerns
LOCAL CURRENCY AND FOREIGN CURRENCY EXCHANGE. The official currency of Macau is the pataca (MOP). The pataca is pegged to the Hong Kong dollar (HKD) at MOP1.03 = HKD1. As a result, the exchange rates for the patacas virtually the same as for the Hong Kong dollar. Hong Kong bills and coins (except the HK$10 coins) are accepted everywhere in Macau. USD1 = MOP 7.98.
Hong Kong dollars and patacas may be used interchangeably almost everywhere except in government offices which only accepts patacas and casinos which accept Hong Kong dollars only.
ATMs are available almost on every street. Holders of a debit card on one of the international networks will have no issues withdrawing money. Holders of Chinese Union Pay cards will not have trouble either withdrawing local currency from their accounts. ATMs usually dispense patacas or dollars.
Visa and MasterCard credit cards are accepted in major restaurants, ferry terminal, stores, hotels, and casinos. Cash and cheques can also be changed at banks as well as at some major hotels.
CLIMATE AND CLOTHING
WEATHER. Macau’s weather is generally hot and rainy in summer. April to October is the rainy season, of which May is the rainiest and July to September is the typhoon season.
For more information on the day to day weather in Macau, you can check here.
CLOTHING. It is suggested that you bring light and loose cotton clothing. Sweaters/shawls will come in handy on chilly nights, or when the air-conditioning indoors gets a bit cold. Umbrellas are very useful especially during the rainy season.
ELECTRICITY AND PLUGS. Electric Supply is at 220V, 50Hz. Most commonly used are rounded 3-pin 5A and 15A plug and UK 13A plug. It is advisable to bring your own adapters.
Getting around the city
1. EATING AND SHOPPING. Macau is a great place to find good restaurants with different types of cuisine: Portuguese, Macanese, Chinese, Shanghainese, European, Japanese, etc. The distinctive cuisine of Macau combines many contrasting kitchens.
It is also a place where you can purchase almost any kind of merchandise. The best buys are in the most popular flea market in Macau which is near the Ruins of St. Paul’s. You can also find the newest and best municipal markets in the area at the Senado Square, the historic heart of Macau.
2. LANGUAGE. Cantonese is the most commonly spoken language in Macau. English is spoken by most front line staff in hotels, shops, restaurants, casinos, and museums. However, it is not as widely spoken as it is in Hong Kong.
*Tip: Have staff from your hotel write down names of your destinations in Chinese so that you can show it to taxi and bus drivers.
3. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
TAXI. Taxis are a convenient way of transportation in the city. They come in two (2) colors – black and yellow. Yellow taxis can be booked through telephone booking (without extra cost). For yellow radio taxis, call 2851 9519 or 2893 9939.
Flag down rate is MOP$15 for the first 1.6km, and MOP$1.50 for every 230km after. Local maps with information in Chinese, Portuguese and English are supplied to taxi drivers by the Macau Tourism Administration Bureau so that they can communicate with visitors about the places and routes in the city.
PUBLIC BUSES. Three bus companies are operating the public and mini buses in the city. The routes operate on a one-way circuit around the city. There are no conductors so it is necessary for you to have the appropriate change in coins before getting aboard. To have a better guide, you can check the Macau public bus website, since most information at bus stops is only in Chinese and Portuguese.
A ride within the Peninsular costs MOP$2.50. The operating hours of most buses are from 6:00am – 12:00mn.
PEDICAB/RICKSHAW. Another option for transportation around the city is the pedicab. These are three-wheeled cycle rickshaws, which are usually around the Macau Peninsula ferry terminal.
Additonal links
Immigration Services
(853) 2872 5488
Macau Government Tourist Office
http://www.macautourism.gov.mo
+853 28 333 000
Macau International Airport
http://www.macau-airport.com/en/
Useful Phone Numbers:
Emergency Number
Hotline: 999/110/112
24-Hrs Tourism Assistance Hotline
Hotline: 283-330-00
Consumer Council
Tel. 898-893-15
Directory Enquiries
Hotline: 181
Kiang Wu Hospital
Address: Rua do Rosario, Macau
Tel: (853) 283-713-33
University Hospital
Address: Block H, Macau University of Science & Technology
Avenida Wai Long, Taipa, Macau
Tel:(853) 28821838
Contact: FMA STAFF
LIZA GARCIA
GICT Program Coordinator
Email Address: lisa.garcia@gmail.com; lgarcia@fma.ph
CHRISTINA LOPEZ
Program Assistant
Email Address: akosithinalopez@gmail.com; tlopez@fma.ph