A picture of a casino in Macau SAR [Photo: you.ctrip.com]

The Macau Special Administrative Region (SAR) is planning to rid its economy of an over-dependence on gambling; instead, it wants to build more new resorts, with non-gaming features to attract tourists.

It says conferences and the exhibition industry will provide a new - non gaming - focus.

Liang Weite, from the Secretariat for Economy and Finance of the Macau SAR, said the local government will attach greater importance to the Conference industry in particular.

"The success rate of conferences will be much higher than that of any other industry, because they could be big or small, and they could be held in a variety of different venues and restaurants. This, to a large extent, will benefit the local economy, and propel the development of small-medium-sized enterprises. Therefore, we are likely to put more effort in this sector."

Liang also said they would take advantage of this opportunity to accelerate the development of family travel, and conference and exhibition tourism.