Macau tourism arrivals could exceed 41 million in 2026
Macau expects visitor numbers to surpass its annual target as same-day trips drive growth, while officials look to encourage longer stays and higher tourism spending.
Macau.- Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, director of the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), has suggested that Macau’s visitor count for 2026 could surpass 41 million, exceeding the government’s full-year target. However, the growth in arrivals has yet to translate into a comparable increase in overnight visits.
Speaking to local media on Thursday, Senna Fernandes said visitor numbers had remained steady since China’s October Golden Week holiday period, with weekends and public holidays continuing to attract strong traffic. Average hotel occupancy stood at around 90 per cent, despite the slower growth in overnight visitors.
MGTO plans to continue promoting Macau in regional markets and will participate in a tourism exhibition in the United Kingdom in early November. Authorities are also looking to encourage visitors to explore local neighbourhoods and increase tourism spending through year-end events.
Figures from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) show that Macau recorded 32.18 million visitor arrivals in the first nine months of 2026, an 8.5 per cent increase year-on-year. The total includes 19.78 million same-day visitors, up 14.5 per cent, while overnight arrivals remained broadly stable at 12.40 million.
Earlier this month, chief executive Sam Hou Fai confirmed that Macau will maintain its 2026 gross gaming revenue (GGR) forecast of MOP236bn (US$29.2bn) for now, despite four consecutive months of year-on-year declines. He said the government would assess October’s revenue before considering any change to its annual target, with authorities monitoring whether increased visitor arrivals during China’s Golden Week holiday translate into stronger casino spending.
