Mainland Visitors Boost Tourism
Mainland Chinese tourists remained the cornerstone of Macau’s October tourism rebound, accounting for 2.53 million arrivals, a 12% YoY rise. The Individual Visit Scheme (IVS) saw a higher adoption rate, with 1.32 million travelers using the program. This 22.6% increase from 2024 reflects the SAR’s relaxed entry policies.
Better visa flexibility further boosted traffic. 214,368 visitors used the “one trip per week” measure, while 97,365 opted for “multiple-entry” permits. Niche initiatives like the “tourist group multi-entry measure” drew in 11.667 travelers, showcasing diversified access methods.
The greater Bay Area’s influence intensified, with 1.32 million visitors coming from its nine Pearl River Delta cities, a 13.8% annual increase. Zhuhai stood out with a 50.9% visitation spike, underscoring Macau’s deepening reliance on regional connectivity.
Global markets and Day Trips Fuel Tourism Surge
International arrivals to Macau climbed 22.9% YoY in October, reaching 290,944 visitors, with Southeast Asia driving the momentum. Thailand led the charge with 26,299 arrivals (up 118.5%), followed by the Philippines with 44,863 arrivals (up 15.3%) and Indonesia with 16,985 arrivals (up 24.7%).
Northeast Asia saw steady growth, including 52,057 South Korean visitors (up 10.6%) and 12,675 Japanese travelers (up 32.1%). Long-haul regions like the US contributed 15,467 arrivals (up 18.8%), signaling the city’s broadening appeal.
Same-day visitation anchored tourism gains, rising 17.6% to 2.10 million entries, while overnight stays grew modestly to 1.37 million (up 1.7%). Despite the influx, the average stay duration stayed the same at 1.1 days.
Golden Week Contributions
Macau’s eight-day Golden Week holiday delivered an early-month boost, drawing 1.14 million visitors at a daily average exceeding 143,000, despite Typhoon Matmo’s disruptions.
Cumulative January to October arrivals hit 33.14 million, up 14.1% YoY. Mainland Chinese travelers dominated with 24.11 million visits (up 17.7%), while international entries grew to 2.15 million (up 13.6%). The Macau Government Tourism Office maintains its 2025 forecast of approximately 39 million visitors by year’s end.
