Visitors swarm Macau during Golden Week

Arrivals to the area during the October Golden Week rose 7.2% year-on-year after reaching 890k visitors.

Macau.- The October Golden Week usually drives tourists to Macau in order to take advantage of their time off, but this year, the number was higher than expected. According to the Macao Government Tourism Office, visitor arrivals rose 7.2% during the holiday period, as it reached 890k visitors.

Out of the total 890k, 734k were Mainland China visitors, which meant a 14% increase year-on-year. Meanwhile, Hong Kong and Taiwan visitors fell 2.7% (101k) and 23.6% (12k) respectively, while international visitors from other markets were also down 33.6% (45k).

According to the Tourism Office, the increase in visitor arrivals during the Golden Week exceeded expectations, probably thanks to “further-enhanced regional transport network and the rich diversity of local festivals and cultural events”

“In addition to other favourable factors – such as local cuisines and great weather throughout the holiday – more travellers were motivated to visit Macao,” the MGTO said.

Despite the increased arrivals Macau hotel occupancy rate was slightly down to 92%, 0.6% less than 2017.