Macau faces shortage of budget hotels, Galaxy chairman says
Francis Lui Yiu Tung said more affordable hotel rooms are needed to support the growth of non-gaming offerings in the city.
Macau.- Francis Lui Yiu Tung, chairman of Galaxy Entertainment Group (GEG), has said that Macau has a shortage of hotel rooms priced at MOP1,000 (US$125) or below. He said the deficit of budget accommodation posed a challenge to the growth of non-gaming offerings in the city.
During an interview with Hong Kong media, Yiu Tung said the availability of affordable hotel rooms was crucial for attracting business and budget travellers. He said that, while GEG and other casino operators are expanding non-gaming initiatives, such as concerts and conventions, limited accommodation hindered further development.
GEG’s chairman sugggested that Hengqin could complement Macau’s tourism infrastructure if the island could add 7,000 hotel rooms. He said: “Macau’s biggest asset is its 35 million visitors [last year], some of that traffic can help support Hengqin’s business development while easing pressure on Macau’s hotel capacity.” He said achieving this would require a comprehensive plan, including the relaxation of border crossing rules.
A policy signed last July allows unused commercial and office buildings in Hengqin to be converted into hotels for a period of up to eight years. That came after a relaxation of the visa policy between Macau and Hengqin last May introduced a multiple-entry visa for mainland Chinese travellers participating in package tours between the two locations.
According to government data, Macau had 147 hotels offering 45,000 rooms as of April. That’s a decrease of 4.3 per cent in year-on-year terms. According to the Macau Hotel Association, the average rate across all hotel categories fell by 4 per cent year-on-year to MOP1,275 in April.
The Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) has reported that 3,092,791 people visited Macau in March. The figure was up 18.9 per cent in year-on-year terms and 0.78 per cent sequentially.
