Inside Asian Gaming

IAG APR 2023年4月 亞博匯 42 M acau’s gaming and tourism sector is r e b o u n d i n g at an extraordinary speed! Amidst the global macroeconomic uncertainty, local casinos and tourism-related businesses have seen positive signs of recovery fueled by the lifting of pandemic restrictions, full border reopening and tourism stimulus campaigns. Though COVID-19 has not gone away, we are seeing the light at the end of the pandemic tunnel. Still, let’s hold our horses and ask: What is on the other side? Certainly a labor shortage is among the key challenges facing the gaming concessionaires and the industry at large. READY FOR THE HUSTLE AND BUSTLE? Gaming concessionaires have just recorded their best quarter since the start of the pandemic. Macau is back to the hustle and bustle, and concessionairesareaggressively adjusting their operations to meet the pent-up demand for travel and entertainment. In particular, the Chinese New Year holiday in January saw a sharp increase in foot traffic and business turnover across casino resorts. The holding company of a concessionaire indicated in its recent securities filing that mass-market table drop during the CNY period across its Macau casinos almost rebounded (95%) to levels seen in 2019. Despite the positive momentum, COLUMNISTS