The Gorgeous Macau

One place that has recently made a lot of name for itself in the Asian tourism industry is the small island close to Hong Kong, known as Macau. Some people argue that small does not always mean limited and it is especially valid in the case of Macau which with its rich history and marvelous architecture also has some of the greatest casinos and bars in all of Asia for which it has become famous as the Las Vegas of the east.

Once a small Chinese island port Macau was transformed into a regional trade hub by the Portuguese who remained in control of the island for more than a century. Macau can offer a tourist a historical ride down its long colonial and pre colonial history lane but at the same time it can also provide him with some world class entertainment at its casinos, bars and night clubs making it a unique travel destination.

Macau has its own airport for which there are quite a few flights available from Europe but still most people prefer to take a cheap flight to Hong Kong, have a short vacation there and then get to Macau through the ferry service that runs between the two islands. The authorities in Macau have worked really hard to improve the tourism infrastructure of the place and their efforts are providing their dividends in the form of the increasing tourist traffic. The hotels in the city are some of the best in the region and there are enough of them in Macau that can provide you with a cheap accommodation facility. The availability of hotels in the city depends upon the season you arrive there; recently the Macau Grand Prix has become a global event that attracts thousands of tourists so if you are planning for a vacation during this period then it will be a good idea to make an advance reservation in the hotel.

Macau has seen a boom in its economy in the last two decades but this is not the kind of boom that can be seen in Hong Kong and China where their respective industrial capacity has increased tremendously but instead the casinos and hotels of Macau that attracts thousands of tourists annually are the economic power houses of the place. Casinos and gambling are illegal in both China and Hong Kong so this industry has really flourished in Macau because of its uniqueness to the region. But it’s hardly the only reason for the tourists to head to this magnificent island.

Another big attraction of Macau is its rich history and marvelous colonial architecture. You can pay a visit to the Macau Museum located at the city center to get a deep insight into the pre colonial and colonial era history of the place. The Mediterranean cuisine served in the restaurants of Macau and especially in its harbor area is famous worldwide for its taste and smell. The best place to observe the colonial era Portuguese architecture is the St. Paul Church located close to the harbor.