The New Macau ~ The first Definitive Guide to the hippest new destination in Asia hits the stands this month.

The 300-page comprehensive, 3-in-1 travel book, begins with a look into the future of Macau, then takes a look back on its past and concludes with an in-depth guide to help visitors explore Macau and its neighboring islands of Taipa and Coloane.

The New Macau, by Jennifer Welker, is the most comprehensive travel book on Macau in the market, and is designed to reflect the dynamic changes taking place in Macau. This book includes photographs from award-winning photographer, Carmo Correira, and designer, Nuno Caçada Bastos.

Creatively written to combine Macau's colorful past as a Chinese city with Portuguese characteristics, this travel book brings forward Macau's future with information on the entry of some of the world's leading gaming, entertainment, hotel and leisure operators. The New Macau resounds with a single theme: Macau is a destination that has come into its own.

Released just ahead of the 54th PATA (Pacific Asia Travel Association) Annual Conference in Macau next month, The New Macau aims to be an indispensable resource for the travel trade and a valuable guide for business and leisure travellers coming to this city.

Welker says of the new Macau: "This is Asia's first real shot at an East-West destination dedicated to fun. The Sands casino, when it opened in May 2004, was the catalyst for change here in Macau. We'll soon start seeing a rich variety of new resort hotels, casinos, theme parks and convention centres shaping the new Macau. It's all about transforming this city into a major resort and meetings destination for Asia. I couldn't think of a better time to be here."

Welker is an American-born journalist who has spent most of her life in Asia and writes and speaks fluent Chinese. She has tremendous experience writing about travel destinations. She notes that most books on Macau combine Hong Kong and other parts of neighbouring China. "I believe today, with the opening of new air routes and greater investment into Macau, the enclave is becoming a destination in its own right and is entitled to have its own comprehensive visitor guide."

"The entry of low-cost carriers (LCCs) such as Thai-based AirAsia and Singapore-based Tiger Airways, which launches flights into Macau from Singapore this month, is evidence of this significant shift in travel to Macau. Another Thai budget carrier, Nok Air, is poised to start flying here in mid-2005," she continues.

A city with a population of 450,000, drawing 16 million tourists a year, has enormous economic and tourism potential. The majority of visitors to Macau have been single-day visitors who come to the city for the casinos; but that is changing as Macau evolves into a low-cost airport hub, offering a wealth of other attractions beyond gaming, Welker adds.

About the author
Jennifer Welker, an American by birth but more Chinese in character, has spent more than half her life in Asia. Upon graduation from the University of Missouri-Columbia's School of Journalism in 1993, she returned to China and continued her Mandarin studies for three years at the Beijing Capital Teacher's University. She has remained in Asia ever since.

Welker is current editor of Business Traveller China, a Chinese-language Euromoney publication. Prior to this, she was editor of TravelWeekly China with Reed Business Information Asia Group. In April 2004, she formed China-Link, a publishing company, to produce publications in Macau, Hong Kong and mainland China. In May 2004, she moved to Macau, and made the small village of Coloane her home to write The New Macau. In December 2004, she registered China-Link in Macau as China-Link Publishing (Macau) Ltd.

About China-Link
China-Link is a publishing company that produces English and simplified Chinese language publications out of Hong Kong, Macau and Mainland China. China-Link also provides communication workshops/seminars for public relations executives on how to work with the media. On an annual basis, China-Link conducts research on the Hong Kong, Macau and the Mainland China travel markets for travel business analysts. China-Link also provides translation services for tourism hospitality companies, print magazines, books and e-zines.