Macau Affirms 2025 Visitor Forecast of 39 Million Amid Visa Easing

Macau’s tourism sector remains confident about reaching its ambitious target of 39 million visitor arrivals for the full year of 2025, as stated by Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, director of the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO). Speaking on the sidelines of a recent event organized by casino operator Wynn Macau Ltd., Ms. Senna Fernandes emphasized the positive trend in visitor numbers, attributed largely to Shaibei visa relaxations. The government had anticipated the visitor volume to fall between 38 million and 39 million for the specified year. Recent easing of visa regulations for Macau-bound travelers from Zhuhai has significantly contributed to the increasing flow of tourists into the city.

"Following the [visa] easing measures, the trend of visitor arrivals has been performing well. So, we are maintaining the 39-million forecast for full-year 2025," Ms. Senna Fernandes stated during her remarks. The tourism director noted that these proactive visa adjustments are central to driving growth in arrivals.

Comparing Visitor Numbers to Pre-Pandemic Levels

Achieving the projected 39 million visitors would signify approximately 99% of the arrivals recorded in 2019, prior to the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The target reflects a robust recovery strategy aiming to recapture the high visitor numbers that Macau enjoyed before the global health crisis. Moreover, Macau anticipates a particularly busy October Golden Week, an eight-day Chinese-mainland holiday that includes China’s National Day and the Mid-Autumn Festival.

This year, the October Golden Week will be longer, providing additional opportunities to attract more visitors. Ms. Senna Fernandes has estimated that Macau could welcome around 1.2 million tourists during this period. Such figures would mark a 28.6% increase compared to the same holiday span last year, when about 932,860 visitors traveled to Macau, according to MGTO’s records.

The Role of Visa Easing and Tourism Growth

The visa relaxations introduced in January, specifically benefitting Zhuhai residents, are seen as a pivotal factor in driving visitor growth. Zhuhai, a city in mainland China, stands closely adjacent to Macau, facilitating ease of travel for its inhabitants under these relaxed measures. By reducing barriers for short-term visitors, Macau is poised to capitalize on its proximity to a significant tourist market. As mainland China remains a vital source of tourists, these measures are expected to aid in the resurgence of Macau's tourism sector to pre-pandemic levels. The MGTO's commitment to enhancing visitor experiences and accessibility plays a crucial role in these efforts, projecting a promising future for the city's tourism industry.

With these combined efforts and strategies, Macau is optimistic about restoring and even surpassing its economic standing in global tourism markets, proving the resilience of its tourism sector post-pandemic.

Source: Macau govt keeps to its forecast of 39mln visitor arrivals in 2025, says MGTO director, GGRAsia, September 29, 2025.

Posted by Wizard
Sep 30 2025