By Ben Blaschke
Chairman of MGS Entertainment Show organizer, the Macau Gaming Equipment Manufacturers Association, Jay Chun, says Macau must embrace technology and become more “high-tech” if it is to become the leading tourism and entertainment destination it wants to be.
In an exclusive interview to be published in the upcoming November edition of Inside Asian Gaming ahead of the MGS Entertainment Show 2017, Mr Chun – who is also Chairman of Macau-based gaming operator and developer Paradise Entertainment Group – said Macau is gradually heading in the right direction but believes technology will play an increasingly important role in the city’s future amid the government’s ongoing push for diversification.
“Moving forward, I think we will need to refine our offerings and provide something that’s not just more, but something that’s better – more high-tech, more customer friendly and more suitable for tech-savvy young people,” he told IAG.
“My vision is for Macau to continue leveraging its advantages of being central to the Asian gaming world, being the largest gaming market and being the primary link between China and Portuguese-speaking countries. I want us to become the world’s model of a ‘smart city.’
“Because of Macau’s size and the structure of our economy, we have an excellent opportunity to do this.”
Given this need to embrace technology, it is no coincidence, Mr Chun says, that this year’s MGS Entertainment Show is running with a theme of “Smart City, Smart Economy.”
“The Smart City theme of this year’s show and summit is meant to bring focus to the major changes in the way our economies and communities function,” he explained. “The MGS Entertainment Show isn’t just about entertainment, it’s about the way we live day to day.
“Macau has recently signed an agreement with Alibaba Cloud to upgrade public services like the medical and transportation systems. This affects everyone – residents and tourists, workers and students – so businesses need to coordinate their growth plans with the changes to the structure of the economy.
“Aside from the growth of cloud computing, which has already radically changed cities around China, we’re seeing robotics and biometrics and surveillance improving at a fast pace. What does this mean for communication between people? It’s going to feel very different when robots do security screenings and can speak 20 languages to travelers at airports.
“When machine learning gets incorporated into these tangible products, we’re really going to be interacting with our cities differently. We want MGS to be forward looking and to help introduce businesses and the public to this future.”
Asked what Macau’s operators and manufacturers must do better to aid Macau’s development, Mr Chun said, “A better and closer working relationship so that we can all work together to benefit Macau.
“Obviously in many ways we are competitors, but our aim is to help Macau. Over the past several years, the major operators and manufacturers have started working a lot closer together and hopefully this can be improved further.”
The MGS Entertainment Show 2017 will run from 14 to 16 November at the Venetian Macao.
