Two ferry fleets that operate Macau routes have announced fare increases with effect from Saturday (April 25).
TurboJET’s increase is averaging 10 percent of the fares currently charged per cabin class respectively on its Hong Kong-Macau routes; its Macau-Shenzhen Airport Ferry Terminal route; and its local leisure ferry service, “Macau Cruise”.
The rise is due to the “recent sharp surge in fuel prices” and increased operation costs, stated TurboJET’s operator, Shun Tak-China Travel Ship Management Ltd, in a Monday announcement, adding that it had received Macau-government approval for the rises.
“The fare adjustment, averaging around 10 percent, aims to slightly alleviate the pressure from rising costs,” added the operator.
Market rival, Cotai Water Jet, also announced upped fares – but for economy-class seats only, known as “Cotai Class” – on its Macau-Hong Kong route with effect from Saturday.
Its day-sailing fares during weekdays will rise 9.7 percent from the current HKD175 (US$22.4) to HKD192. Night sailings during weekdays, weekends and holidays will be increased 10 percent from the current HKD220 to HKD242. The fare for day sailings during weekends and holidays will also be increased 10 percent from the current HKD190 to HKD209.
Cotai Water Jet, which is run by Cotai Ferry Co Ltd on behalf of Macau casino operator Sands China Ltd, offers sailings between Hong Kong and Taipa Ferry Terminal.
Cotai Water Jet’s notice did not specify the reason for the fare adjustment.
Travellers that enter Macau from Hong Kong typically use either a ferry, or travel by road shuttle service via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge.
For the first two months of this year – the most recent data available – Macau recorded 696,211 visitor arrivals by sea, a 3.2 percent year-on-year decline, according to the data from Statistics and Census Service. Travellers from the Chinese mainland accounted for 308,472 arrivals by sea, or 44.3 percent of those using that mode of transport. Hong Kong accounted for 231,153 marine arrivals, or 33.2 percent of those using that method.
During January and February, the number of mainlanders that entered Macau by sea as visitors went up 4.7 percent year-on-year. The tally of those from Hong Kong using that mode declined 10.6 percent.
Out of Macau’s aggregate visitor volume of 7.82 million in January and February, around 83.7 percent – or nearly 6.55 million – visited the city via inland checkpoints. Visitor arrivals by land in the period expanded 17.6 percent year-on-year.
