Macau Casino Shuttle Usage Surges in 2024

In 2024, the utilization of shuttle buses operated by casinos in Macau experienced a significant increase, reflecting a positive trend in the region's transport sector. The number of passenger movements facilitated by these shuttle services saw a year-on-year rise of 47.3 percent, reaching nearly 52.98 million. This marks a substantial increase from the previous year's figure of just over 35.96 million. Despite this growth, the 2024 volume still lags behind the pre-COVID-19 levels recorded in 2019, when passenger movements stood at 63.18 million, indicating a gap of 16.1 percent. These statistics underscore the ongoing recovery and challenges within the casino shuttle service sector in Macau.

Detailed Analysis of Shuttle Service Operations

The Transport Bureau's data provides a detailed look into the operations of these casino shuttles. A passenger movement is counted as a single journey by an individual in one direction. The shuttles primarily operate from key entry points into Macau, including the Border Gate with Zhuhai, the Taipa Ferry Terminal, the Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal, and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge. From these locations, the shuttles transport passengers to casinos located in downtown Macau or in the Cotai area. Additionally, some shuttle services run between casino properties on the Macau peninsula and those in Cotai, serving both tourists and local residents.

In 2024, the six casino operators in Macau managed a total of 65 shuttle routes, utilizing a fleet of 376 buses. This is an increase from the 59 routes operated in 2023 with 281 buses, and slightly more routes but fewer buses compared to 2019, when 57 routes were serviced by 426 buses. This expansion in the number of routes and buses reflects a strategic effort to enhance connectivity and accessibility to casino facilities across the region.

Journey Volume and Future Prospects

The journey volume of casino shuttle buses in 2024 also showed a notable increase, growing by 38.1 percent year-on-year to just under 3.1 million trips. This is a significant rise from the 2.2 million trips recorded in 2023. However, the journey volume in 2024 was still slightly below the 2019 level of over 3.3 million trips, indicating that while recovery is underway, the sector has yet to fully rebound to its pre-pandemic performance.

The data from the Transport Bureau highlights the importance of casino shuttle services in facilitating access to gaming and entertainment facilities in Macau. As the region continues to navigate the post-COVID-19 landscape, the ongoing efforts to expand and optimize shuttle services are crucial for supporting the recovery of the tourism and gaming industries. The increase in passenger movements and journey volumes in 2024 suggests a positive trajectory, but continued monitoring and adaptation will be necessary to meet the evolving needs of both tourists and locals in Macau.

Posted by Wizard
Mar 26 2025