• About Us
  • The Team
  • Advertise with Us

The latest news on the gaming industry in Asia

() () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () ()
  • Home
  • Macau
  • Philippines
  • Singapore
  • Japan
  • Rest of Asia
  • World
  • Features
  • Industry Talk
  • Trends & Tech
  • follow
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • RSS Feed
    • LinkedIn

10mln visitors possible in 2021: Macau tourism boss

Feb 10, 2021 Newsdesk Latest News, Macau, Top of the deck  


10mln visitors possible in 2021: Macau tourism boss

Macau’s tourism boss says the city might welcome “6 million to 10 million” visitors for 2021. The forecast, at a Wednesday media briefing, was based on the idea of gradual improvement to the market after the imminent, week-long, Chinese New Year break.

The upper figure would still only be a quarter of pre-pandemic levels. Macau had 39.4 million tourists in 2019, a nearly 10-percent rise on the 35.8-million visitor arrivals recorded in 2018, according to official data.

Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes (centre), director of the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), said in Wednesday’s update, it was “difficult to make” firmer estimates for full-year 2021, due to the “unpredictable” nature of developments relating to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Mainland China is currently the only place to have a largely quarantine-free travel bubble with Macau, amid existing travel restrictions as countermeasures against Covid-19.

Macau’s tourism bureau expects daily tourist arrivals to reach  “30,000” later this year, based on containment of recent Covid-19 outbreaks on the mainland, and the vaccination programme being implemented across the country, said Ms Senna Fernandes.

In January, there were “only a few days” when Macau’s visitor arrivals exceeded 20,000, the tourism official noted.

She was “bearish” on tourism volume for the Chinese New Year holiday, defined by China’s State Council as this year running from Thursday (February 11) to February 17.

Macau could have “16,000 to 20,000” arrivals per day in the period, said the MGTO boss. Mainland authorities have been urging their residents not to travel beyond their home area during Chinese New Year. On that basis it would be “difficult” for Macau’s Chinese New Year-visitor arrivals to reach the 200,000-plus level achieved for the same holiday in 2020, Ms Senna Fernandes explained to the media.

According to MGTO data, Macau saw circa 260,000 tourist arrivals during the week-long Chinese New Year break in 2020, from January 24 to January 30. A majority, i.e., 57.2 percent, were from mainland China. At the time, the tourism bureau noted Covid-19 had already started to hit Macau’s travel trade, meaning 2020 Chinese New Year holiday tourist volumes were down 78 percent year-on-year.

This festive season, Macau’s hotels and guest houses might see an average occupancy rate of “nearly 30 percent”, with those from the three-star to five-star hotels reaching above 30 percent for February 11 to 17, said Ms Senna Fernandes, citing hospitality-sector estimates.


  • tweet
Related articles
  • Galaxy Macau Phase 3 MICE to launch in stages says exec
    Galaxy Macau Phase 3 MICE to launch in...

    Feb 24, 2021  

  • Phase 2 Resorts World Sentosa only starts 2022: analyst
    Phase 2 Resorts World Sentosa only...

    Feb 24, 2021  

More news
  • Melco’s Lawrence Ho hopeful on Macau recovery in March
    Melco’s Lawrence Ho hopeful on Macau...

    Feb 26, 2021  

  • Paradise 4Q loss up sequentially, positive EBITDA
    Paradise 4Q loss up sequentially,...

    Feb 26, 2021  


Latest News

Melco’s Lawrence Ho hopeful on Macau recovery in March

Melco’s Lawrence Ho hopeful on Macau recovery in March

Feb 26, 2021  

Lawrence Ho Yau Lung, chairman and chief executive of casino operator Melco Resorts and Entertainment Ltd, says Macau’s casino sector could start showing recovery signs in “mid-to-late...
Read More
Paradise 4Q loss up sequentially, positive EBITDA

Paradise 4Q loss up sequentially, positive EBITDA

Feb 26, 2021  

Gaming recovery helps Melco Resorts EBITDA break even 4Q

Gaming recovery helps Melco Resorts EBITDA break even 4Q

Feb 26, 2021  

Sign up to our FREE Newsletter

UB8V5.qr.16(Click here for more)

Partners

Pick of the Day


US$129.0 million

Adjusted EBITDA reported by Macau casino operator Galaxy Entertainment for the fourth quarter of 2020



Most Popular

  • Macau casino GGR soared in final days of CNY: brokeragesMacau casino GGR soared in final days of CNY: brokerages February 23, 2021
  • Pansy Ho sells off more stock in MGM Resorts for US$36mlnPansy Ho sells off more stock in MGM Resorts for US$36mln February 23, 2021
  • Macau removes last mainland cities from its quarantine listMacau removes last mainland cities from its quarantine list February 23, 2021
  • GEG in US$1.6bln construction deal on Galaxy Macau Phase 4GEG in US$1.6bln construction deal on Galaxy Macau Phase 4 February 22, 2021
  • Caesars out of Korea, ex-partner R&F asks 3yr delayCaesars out of Korea, ex-partner R&F asks 3yr delay February 19, 2021
Copyright 2014-2020 TEAM Publishing and Consultancy Ltd / All rights reserved
  • Code of Ethics
  • Privacy Policy
  • Useful Links
  • Contact Us