Travel in Macau, China

Steady growth in arrivals from China underpins expansion of Macau’s travel market

Macau’s travel market continued to develop positively in 2019, with inbound arrivals growing steadily and the airlines, lodging and online travel intermediaries categories all posting impressive results. The performance of travel as a whole was lifted by healthy growth in arrivals from China, by far the most important source market for the city.

Efforts to rebrand Macau as “world centre of tourism and leisure” continue

In keeping with the goals outlined in the Tourism Industry Development Master Plan, authorities and industry stakeholders in Macau are actively working to reduce the city’s dependence on gambling and reposition it as a “world centre of tourism and leisure”. For example, casino resort operators are increasingly shifting their focus from “high rollers” to mass market leisure travellers and families by expanding their offer of non-gambling entertainment facilities and services.

Competition among airlines serving Macau set to intensify

Early in 2019, the Civil Aviation Authority of Macau (AACM) announced that its 25-year exclusive concession agreement with national carrier Air Macau will come to an end in November 2020. Together with the further expansion of the city’s only airport, it is expected that this will encourage more airlines to start flying to Macau, or to increase the frequency of flights on established routes.

Local authorities and industry operators embrace “smart tourism” projects

As part of a wider effort to transform Macau into one of the leading smart cities in the Asia Pacific region, local authorities and industry stakeholders are using advanced technologies to develop new tourism products and services and improve the quality of visitor experiences. In particular, cloud computing and artificial intelligence are being harnessed to collate and analyse data on the behaviour and preferences of tourists.

Diversification beyond gambling will continue to strengthen the appeal of Macau

The outlook for travel in Macau is broadly favourable, with inbound arrivals projected to grow steadily throughout the forecast period. While casinos will remain the primary attraction for many visitors, the diversification of tourism products and services beyond gambling will continue to broaden the city’s appeal as a destination.

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