Macau Anticipates Surge in Visitors During May Golden Week

The head of Macau's tourism authority is anticipating a significant increase in visitor numbers during the upcoming Labour Day holidays, a period known for being a peak time for the city's tourism sector. The Labour Day holidays, set by China's State Council, will run from May 1 to May 5, and this period is commonly referred to by some as the 'May Golden Week'. This holiday season is expected to bring a substantial influx of tourists to Macau, boosting the local economy and tourism industry.

Projected Visitor Numbers and Growth

According to Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, the director of the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), the city is poised to welcome between 127,000 to 140,000 visitor arrivals each day during the five-day holiday break. This projection translates to a total of between 635,000 and 700,000 visitors over the holiday period. If the lower figure of 635,000 visitors is achieved, it would mark a near 5-percent increase from the 605,000 arrivals recorded during the same holiday period the previous year. On the other hand, the higher-end forecast of 700,000 visitors would represent a 15.7-percent growth from the year before.

In her comments to reporters on Friday, Ms Senna Fernandes expressed optimism about the upcoming holiday season and outlined plans to enhance the visitor experience. She mentioned that her office would focus on supporting and promoting more 'night-time' activities for tourists, with the goal of encouraging them to stay overnight in Macau. This strategy is aimed at not only increasing the number of visitors but also extending their stay, thereby boosting the local economy further.

First Quarter Visitor Statistics and Trends

Looking at the broader context, Macau has already seen a significant increase in visitor numbers in the first quarter of this year. According to data from the city's Statistics and Census Service, Macau recorded just above 9.86 million visitor arrivals in the first three months, marking an 11.1 percent increase from the same period the previous year. This translates to an average of approximately 109,585 visitors daily during the first quarter.

Further analysis of the visitor data reveals interesting trends. Nearly 60 percent of the 9.86 million visitor arrivals, or 5.82 million, were same-day trippers, showing a 21.5 percent increase year-on-year. In contrast, the city received a total of 4.04 million overnighters in the first quarter, which represents a slight decrease of 1.1 percent from the prior-year period. These statistics highlight the ongoing challenge for Macau's tourism industry to convert more day visitors into overnight stays, a goal that the MGTO is actively working towards with its focus on night-time activities.

Source: Macau may receive up to 140k visitors daily during May Golden Week hols: MGTO, GGRAsia, April 25, 2025.

Posted by Wizard
Apr 28 2025