Macau Visitor Numbers Rise 11% as October Pulls in Strong Tourism Wave

Visitor traffic in Macau kept climbing through October, with steady flow from the Chinese mainland and a rebound in international travel. Crowds returned for holiday periods even with weather disruptions, offering another signal of how quickly the city tourism engine keeps recovering.

Good to Know

• October brought more than 3.47 million visitors into Macau
• Same day arrivals jumped faster than overnight stays
• Mainland China continued as the top source market by a wide margin

Macau welcomed just over 3.47 million arrivals in October, according to the Statistics and Census Bureau. That figure landed 10.8 percent higher than the same period a year earlier, marking another month of solid tourism momentum.

Same Day Visits Outpaced Overnight Stays

Travel patterns leaned heavily toward short trips. Same day visitors topped 2.10 million, rising 17.6 percent year on year. Overnight stays grew at a slower pace, up 1.7 percent to almost 1.37 million. The average stay length remained at 1.1 days, the same as last year.

Mainland China Travelers Dominated October Traffic

Arrivals from the Chinese mainland reached 2.53 million, up 12 percent. A large share came under the Individual Visit Scheme, with that segment rising 22.6 percent to 1.32 million. That trend reflected consistent travel demand even outside peak vacation windows.

International visitor counts also showed strength. Almost 261,000 travelers came from outside Greater China, a 22.9 percent jump over October 2024.

Golden Week Delivered Heavy Foot Traffic Despite Typhoon Impact

Investment analysts pointed to strong crowds during the eight day Golden Week stretch at the start of the month. The city logged more than 1.14 million arrivals during that period, averaging more than 143,000 visitors per day.

Typhoon Matmo disrupted transport services and non gaming operations at several casino resorts in early October, yet traffic still held up. Golden Week traditionally draws large numbers of mainland Chinese travelers, making it a crucial trading period for casinos, hotels, retail, and entertainment.

Visitor Momentum Holds Through 2025 Outlook

Across the first 10 months of the year, Macau logged just over 33.14 million arrivals. That volume came in 14.1 percent higher year on year. Nearly 24.11 million visitors came from mainland China, marking a 17.7 percent lift. International arrivals in the same January to October window reached almost 2.15 million, a gain of 13.6 percent.

Travel officials expect Macau to end 2025 with around 39 million arrivals, based on forecasts shared earlier by the director of the Macao Government Tourism Office.

FAQ

Why did same day visitors grow faster than overnight visitors?

Short leisure trips kept rising due to easier transportation access and holiday traffic during Golden Week.

How many visitors came from mainland China in October?

The tally reached 2.53 million, with strong contributions from Individual Visit Scheme travelers.

Did weather disruptions affect October tourism?

A typhoon hit early in the month, yet visitor volume still remained high during Golden Week.

What is the full year arrival forecast for 2025?

Officials expect around 39 million arrivals.

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