Group tours no longer preferred by Macau’s visitors, says MGTO

[Photo; Yuki Lei]

Macau’s tourism chief acknowledged yesterday that visitors’ preferences for exploring the city have significantly changed, with group tours only recovering to approximately 25% of pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2024.

As noted by the director of the Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO), Maria Helenna de Senna Fernandes, as of last year, Macau had 197 licensed travel agencies and 1,851 licensed tour guides.

“Currently, most tourists do not opt for group tours. Estimates suggest that by the end of 2024, group tour recovery had only reached about 25% of pre-pandemic levels,” said Senna Fernandes, who noted that more travelers now prefer independent travel, “favoring smaller trips with family or friends.”

She further noted that the industry is evolving rapidly and expressed hopes of developing diverse tourism products in the future – such as educational tours – to complement traditional group tour operations. “It may not necessarily be just about tour guides.

Currently, it might not only involve handling large groups. Moving forward, we aim to diversify our offerings, for example through educational tours or other initiatives, to supplement the conventional group tour business.”

The Macau government recently concluded discussions on the new Travel Agents and Professional Tour Guides legal regime, and has formulated relevant administrative regulations to adapt to changes in the tourism industry and economic development, Secretary for Administration and Justice Wong Sio Chak announced during an Executive Council press conference yesterday.

These regulations will take effect at the beginning of next month.

“These legal systems have been in effect for over 20 years, and as the Macau Special Administrative Region’s economy continues to develop, the tourism industry has also undergone significant changes,” he stated.

As outlined in a statement distributed during the press conference alongside Wong’s verbal announcement, key updates to the legal amendments include that tour guides must complete a course of at least 102 hours offered by the Macao University of Tourism (UTM).

Those without higher education qualifications must undergo a training course of 150 hours, which includes a mandatory refresher course conducted by the university lasting at least 3.5 hours.

Providing further details on the updates, the authorities stated that existing tour guides must complete relevant supplementary courses within three years to maintain their qualifications, or their licenses will be revoked. Additionally, guides must conduct tours in the language specified on their license, with refresher courses provided in the guide’s designated language – English-speaking guides will primarily receive instruction in English, while Chinese-speaking guides will be taught in Chinese.

The new legislation will also impose additional requirements; for instance, local students with overseas qualifications seeking to work as tour guides must complete supplementary courses related to Macau tourism.

Key updates to the relevant regulations also include an increase in bank guarantee amounts, with travel agencies’ deposits rising from MOP500,000 to MOP600,000 to ensure their effectiveness. Insurance coverage will also increase, as professional civil liability insurance rises from MOP700,000 to at least MOP1,000,000 to enhance beneficiary protection.

The education and training requirements specify that qualified supervisors must hold qualifications from higher education institutions within Macau or from non-local institutions recognized by the Macao University of Tourism, with professional training courses totaling 30 hours.

Furthermore, the regulations clearly outline the documentation required for various applications and notifications, facilitating the implementation of electronic evidence to enable the tourism authorities to access necessary documents without requiring applicants to submit them in person.