The Director of the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, told a tourism forum on Wednesday that Macau welcomed an average of around 57,000 visitor arrivals each day in February.
However, international arrivals – those from outside China and its territories – still account for only a small amount with 2.2% of January’s visitors coming from foreign countries.
In a speech delivered at a MICE Symposium co-organized by Sands China and the Macau Institute for Tourism Studies, Fernandes said, “The MGTO has adjusted its target for this year’s visitor arrivals to an average of 50,000 visitors per day. The average daily arrivals in February this year were about 57,000, and in early March the average daily arrivals were about 50,000.
“As of January, international markets accounted for 2.2% of Macau’s visitor arrivals, with the Philippines, Korea, Indonesia, Japan and the United States the top five international source markets.”
Fernandes said she believes that with the gradual resumption of international flights to Macau and more convenient travel to and from Hong Kong, the share of international visitors could rise to 10%.
In addition, the Macau International Dragon Boat Festival, organized by SJM and the Macau Sports Bureau, will be held on 17, 18 and 22 June.
At a press conference, Daisy Ho, Chairman and Executive Director of SJM Holdings, said, “The Dragon Boat Festival will attract more international visitors to Macau, who will experience the festive atmosphere of Macau and the joint effect of sports and tourism.”