• 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

Macau Chinese New Year arrivals hit record 1.2mln, up 27pct

Feb 11, 2019 Newsdesk Latest News, Macau, Top of the deck  


Macau Chinese New Year arrivals hit record 1.2mln, up 27pct

Visitor arrivals to Macau during the Chinese New Year holiday period increased by 26.6 percent from a year earlier, passing the one-million mark for the first time, according to data consulted by GGRAsia.

Preliminary figures from the city’s Public Security Police show Macau recorded 1.21 million visitor arrivals between February 4 and February 10, the seven days of the Chinese New Year holiday period. The figures were reported on Monday by the Macao Government Tourism Office.

Sanford C. Bernstein Ltd said in a note also on Monday that the surge in visitor arrivals during the Chinese New Year holiday period had not supported a similar increase in casino gross gaming revenue (GGR). The brokerage added it was now estimating that Macau’s casino industry would post year-on-year GGR growth of between 2 percent and 5 percent for full February.

“Average daily rate during the [period] of February 1-10, which encompassed all of Spring Festival Golden Week (February 4–10), was approximately MOP840 million [US$103.9 million],” analysts Vitaly Umansky, Eunice Lee and Kelsey Zhu said, quoting data from unofficial industry channels. “Month-to-date mass GGR is estimated to be up modestly by low-single digits of percent month on month, whereas VIP volume is up high-single digits of percent month-on-month.”

They added: “While visitation was robust during holiday period, many high rollers have stayed away from Macau (as is frequently the case). We are likely to see some strengthening in high end play during the second half of this month.”

A total of 74.1 percent of the arrivals during the holiday period this year – amounting to around 899,000 instances – were by visitors from mainland China, representing a year-on-year increase of 25.6 percent for that group.

The week-long holiday period is usually a peak season for Macau’s gaming industry as hundreds of thousands of mainland Chinese tourists take advantage of the week-long break to visit the city. China’s State Council has designated the 2019 Chinese New Year festive period as running from February 4 until February 10.

Investment analysts however have noted in previous commentary on Macau that there need not be a direct correlation between numbers of tourists to Macau and gaming spend in casinos. This is because research indicates that high-stakes play by a relatively small number of visitors is still an important component of the market.

Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, director of the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), noted on Friday that arrival figures for the Chinese New Year period that had been collected up to that date were beyond what had been expected by her bureau. Ms Senna Fernandes had previously said that the city could see an “8 percent to 9 percent” year-on-year increase in visitor arrivals for the 2019 Chinese New Year holiday.

The tourism boss referred to the recently-opened Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge as an element in the year-on-year expansion of visitor numbers for this year’s week-long festive period. The bridge, which spans 55 kilometres (34 miles) of the Pearl River Delta, offers a more direct road route to Macau from Hong Kong and its major airport, than has been available hitherto. It opened to traffic on October 24.

The preliminary data reported on Monday by MGTO show that an aggregate of approximately 192,000 visitors arrived in Macau via the bridge during the Chinese New Year holiday period. Only the Gongbei border gate on Macau peninsula – the land crossing to and from Zhuhai in China’s Guangdong province – recorded more visitor arrivals during the period, handling more than 601,000 visitors, according to the preliminary figures.


  • tweet
Related articles
  • April pax tally to rise 26pct m-o-m says Macau airport op
    April pax tally to rise 26pct m-o-m...

    Apr 19, 2021  

  • Covid-19 test cert no longer needed for Macau casino entry
    Covid-19 test cert no longer needed for...

    Mar 02, 2021  

More news
  • VIP gaming not defined in Japan draft rules: IR Forum
    VIP gaming not defined in Japan draft...

    Apr 21, 2021  

  • GEN Malaysia likely 2021 loss amid pandemic: Maybank
    GEN Malaysia likely 2021 loss amid...

    Apr 21, 2021  


Latest News

VIP gaming not defined in Japan draft rules: IR Forum

VIP gaming not defined in Japan draft rules: IR Forum

Apr 21, 2021  

Japan’s draft regulations for casinos, undergoing public consultation until May 9, still require clarifications in key areas, including the definition of VIP play, says Kentaro Maruta (pictured) of...
Read More
GEN Malaysia likely 2021 loss amid pandemic: Maybank

GEN Malaysia likely 2021 loss amid pandemic: Maybank

Apr 21, 2021  

Macau 1Q gaming suspect transaction reports up 2pct

Macau 1Q gaming suspect transaction reports up 2pct

Apr 21, 2021  

Macau govt, analysts tip May Day bounty at casino resorts

Macau govt, analysts tip May Day bounty at casino resorts

Apr 20, 2021  

Sign up to our FREE Newsletter

UB8V5.qr.16(Click here for more)

Pick of the Day

”We are filled with gratitude and excitement as we approach our opening this June and hope to play a role in Las Vegas’s rebound after what has been an incredibly challenging year”

Scott Sibella

President of Resorts World Las Vegas



Most Popular

  • Macau gaming demand recovering comfortably: analystsMacau gaming demand recovering comfortably: analysts April 20, 2021
  • Talks on NagaWorld lay-offs amid pandemic: sourceTalks on NagaWorld lay-offs amid pandemic: source April 19, 2021
  • Macau govt, analysts tip May Day bounty at casino resortsMacau govt, analysts tip May Day bounty at casino resorts April 20, 2021
  • NUSTAR complex in Cebu slated to open 2022: UHRINUSTAR complex in Cebu slated to open 2022: UHRI April 16, 2021
  • Macau VIP GGR up 20pct sequentially in 1Q: govtMacau VIP GGR up 20pct sequentially in 1Q: govt April 16, 2021
Copyright 2014-2021 TEAM Publishing and Consultancy Ltd / All rights reserved
  • Code of Ethics
  • Privacy Policy
  • Useful Links
  • Contact Us