• 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 visitor arrivals could top 38mln in 2019: tourism boss

Jan 24, 2019 Newsdesk Latest News, Macau, Top of the deck  


Macau visitor arrivals could top 38mln in 2019: tourism boss

The head of the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, forecasts the number of tourists visiting Macau this year will probably rise between 5 percent and 6 percent compared to 2018.

Ms Senna Fernandes (pictured in a file photo) was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a press conference on Wednesday. The official said the Macau authorities were forecasting the aggregate 2019 visitor tally could reach up to 38 million.

In 2018, the aggregate number of visitor arrivals exceeded 35.80 million, an increase of 9.8 percent from 2017, according to official data. On Wednesday, the city’s Statistics and Census Service said that for full-year 2018 the overnight-stay visitor tally rose by 7.2 percent to slightly above 18.49 million, accounting for nearly 51.7 percent of total visitor arrivals and setting a new record in terms of quantity.

Ms Senna Fernandes said that MGTO expected the number of visitor arrivals during the Chinese New Year holiday to rise by between 8 percent to 9 percent, boosted by the opening of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge. Chinese New Year falls on February 5 this year.

The MGTO director said additionally that her department wanted to attract more tourists from international markets, namely from European countries.

The tourism office said in a statement issued following Wednesday’s media briefing that in 2019 it would strive to foster what it termed “smart tourism” and implement strategies and recommendations in the Macao Tourism Industry Development Master Plan, which was published in September 2017.

The statement added that MGTO would actively work to develop Macau into a tourism-education and training base serving the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area. The latter is a Chinese central government initiative to integrate the economies and people of Guangdong province on the mainland, and the two neighbouring Special Administrative Regions.

MGTO would also work, said the statement, to improve the overall quality of the city’s tourism industry.

The tourism bureau also vowed to foster the development of the local catering sector, as well as to host and support what it termed “international gastronomic events,” in order to strengthen Macau’s appeal as a “Creative City of Gastronomy”. The latter refers to Macau’s role in promoting intangible heritage relating to its food traditions, as part of a wider UNESCO initiative.


  • tweet
Related articles
  • Macau govt, analysts tip May Day bounty at casino resorts
    Macau govt, analysts tip May Day bounty...

    Apr 20, 2021  

  • Macau gaming demand recovering comfortably: analysts
    Macau gaming demand recovering...

    Apr 20, 2021  

More news
  • Paradise Ent says deployment of own slots hit by pandemic
    Paradise Ent says deployment of own...

    Apr 20, 2021  

  • Belle Corp 2020 gaming revenue from CoD Manila dips 79pct
    Belle Corp 2020 gaming revenue from CoD...

    Apr 20, 2021  


Latest News

Macau govt, analysts tip May Day bounty at casino resorts

Macau govt, analysts tip May Day bounty at casino resorts

Apr 20, 2021  

The average nightly occupancy rate for Macau hotels – including properties in casino resorts – could reach “70 percent to 80 percent” during the upcoming Labour Day break in May,...
Read More
Paradise Ent says deployment of own slots hit by pandemic

Paradise Ent says deployment of own slots hit by pandemic

Apr 20, 2021  

Belle Corp 2020 gaming revenue from CoD Manila dips 79pct

Belle Corp 2020 gaming revenue from CoD Manila dips 79pct

Apr 20, 2021  

Japan casino draft rules strict, but evolving: experts

Japan casino draft rules strict, but evolving: experts

Apr 20, 2021  

Sign up to our FREE Newsletter

UB8V5.qr.16(Click here for more)

Pick of the Day


US$4.3 billion

Budget for Genting Bhd's Resorts World Las Vegas, to open June 24



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
  • 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
  • Oaktree offers US$$2.3bln for Crown to buy out PackerOaktree offers US$$2.3bln for Crown to buy out Packer April 19, 2021
Copyright 2014-2021 TEAM Publishing and Consultancy Ltd / All rights reserved
  • Code of Ethics
  • Privacy Policy
  • Useful Links
  • Contact Us