MGTO expects nearly 90% hotel booking rates for Lunar New Year

As the Lunar New Year approaches, hotel bookings in Macau are nearing capacity, with expectations that occupancy rates could exceed 90% on peak days.

Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, director of the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), shared insights into the city’s tourism trends during an interview yesterday with the press.

Fernandes revealed that the average number of tourists in Macau over the past week has surpassed 100,000. She anticipates that, during the Spring Festival, this number could rise to an average of 185,000 visitors per day.

“Recently, we were informed by hotels that their reservation rate had reached 90% a few days ago,” said Fernandes. “I believe that this Lunar New Year will see very optimistic results overall. While it may be overly ambitious to expect an average of 95% occupancy, I am confident that we will exceed 90%.”

As of 9 p.m. last night, Macau welcomed a total of 130,854 tourist arrivals, while Saturday saw 137,856 tourists entering the SAR.

The influx of visitors is attributed in part to recent policy changes, including the “one trip per week” and “multi-entry with one visa” policies for Zhuhai and Hengqin, which have significantly boosted tourism.

Fernandes also acknowledged emerging challenges in the region, particularly in light of Thailand’s recent draft legalization of casinos.

She stressed the importance of diversifying Macau’s tourism offerings to maintain its competitive edge. “With continued efforts to diversify our marketing and advertising strategies, Macau will attract a broader range of tourists in the future, ensuring greater opportunities for growth,” she added.

Meanwhile, a check conducted by the Times yesterday found that several hotels in Cotai are already fully booked, with available five-star hotels charging as much as over MOP4,300 per night.

China’s Lunar New Year travel rush has kicked into high gear, with billions of trips expected in coming days for the peak of the 40-day annual mass migration — the world’s biggest annual movement of humanity.

The actual new year holiday, which marks the start of the year of the snake in the 12-month lunar calendar, comes on Wednesday, while New Year’s Eve on tomorrow is reserved for family gatherings and traditionally fireworks displays.

Many began travelling on Jan. 14 and the rush will reach a peak over the weekend.

In total, 9 billion trips — mostly by car — are expected over the 40-day travel rush, according to a report from the Associated Press.

Trips by train will surpass 510 million, with another 90 million travelling by air. The government didn’t say how the travel figures compared with any other 40-day period during the year.

Trips are now far more comfortable than in past years, when travelers often crammed into train cars for trips that could last days — if they were fortunate enough to buy a ticket, which are now mostly sold online.

Traditionally the festival has been a time for families to gather, with members of China’s huge migrant worker population using up all their vacation time on the annual visit that for many offers the only chance to see parents and children.

Rising prosperity and the decline in family customs in recent years has prompted those with the means to travel overseas, mostly to South East Asia, but also Japan and South Korea. Cross-border trips are expected to rise by nearly 10%, including foreign tourists willing to risk the crowds to take in the spectacle.

The government grants eight public holiday days from Jan. 28 to Feb. 4. While fireworks have been all but eradicated under President Xi Jinping, traditional events such as temple markets draped in auspicious bright red colors continue to draw visitors in their millions.Victoria Chan

Airport to add flights

Macau International Airport Company Limited (CAM) announced plans to increase flight frequency during the Chinese New Year season to accommodate rising travel demand.

CAM revealed that passenger reservation rates have surpassed 90% ahead of the Year of the Snake, prompting the airport to collaborate with airlines to adjust flight schedules accordingly.

To meet the demand, CAM will add a total of 58 additional regular and charter flights to mainland China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Japan, Korea, and Malaysia, providing more travel options for passengers.

Additionally, CAM will offer parking discounts from January 25 to February 7 for travelers departing or arriving at the airport. Passengers can enjoy a 50% discount on parking for up to five consecutive days when presenting valid travel identification and original departure and return boarding passes.

To celebrate the Chinese New Year, CAM has decorated its passenger terminal with balloon sculptures and artwork, creating a festive atmosphere for travelers. A series of seasonal programs are also planned, including the distribution of Spring Festival couplets and a special appearance by the God of Wealth.