Macau visiting numbers grow

Official report by Macau Government Tourism Office shows increase in visitors.

Macau.- The Chinese city of Macau saw its numbers grow during this month’s Chinese New Year holiday celebrations, boosting the tourist industry’s results. According to an official report published this week by the Macau Government Tourism Office, Macau experienced an increase in visitors, rising 6.5 per cent year-on-year.

“The surge in visitor arrivals during this Golden Week was higher than expected, which can be attributed mainly to different favourable factors such as the diversity of spectacular events and festivals, newly-inaugurated tourism and entertainment complex, festive vibe as well as the pleasant weather,” said the MGTO in a release.

The MGTO’s report shows that around 963,265 visitors arrived in Macau over the Feb 15 – 21 period. “Visitors from Greater China increased 6.9 per cent to 910,000, accounting for 94.6 per cent of total visitor arrivals. Among them, 74.3 per cent came from Mainland China. Hong Kong and Taiwan visitors however decreased, while international visitors also dropped slightly.”

During the first weeks of February, casino revenue has apparently grown at an expected pace, although operations from last weekend could add further financial benefits. Furthermore, local authorities have confirmed that the gross gaming revenue in the gaming hub reached €1.7 billion during the first three weeks of January 2018 – an increase of around 21 per cent year-on-year.