Macau saw a significant surge in visitors during the National Day Golden Week, welcoming around 1.1 million people between September 29 and October 6. This exceeded the daily target of 130,000 visitors, with an impressive average of 138,000 visitors per day. October 4 set a new single-day record, with over 174,000 visitors, showcasing the region’s recovery post-COVID.
Overall, Macau recorded 2.21 million inbound and outbound trips during the holiday period. The majority of these movements occurred through key points like the Border Gate, Hengqin Port, and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. Although visitation from Hong Kong declined, this was balanced by increased arrivals from other regions.
Economic Impact and Tourism Outlook
The sharp rise in visitors brought an economic boost, with hotel occupancy reaching a remarkable 95%. Hotel room rates aligned with 2019 levels, highlighting the sector’s strong rebound. Small and medium-sized businesses in Macau also benefited, returning to pre-pandemic transaction levels. Andy Wu, chairman of the Federal General Commercial Association of Macau SMEs, urged businesses to focus on catering to younger customers to further enhance growth.
However, some believe more could be done to boost tourism. Sam Hou Fai, Macau’s chief executive candidate, emphasized that local casinos should enhance their entertainment offerings to compete globally. He suggested looking to Las Vegas for inspiration, noting, “Local operators should learn from Las Vegas and invite celebrities for residency shows.”
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