MGTO unveils plans for fresh routes, smarter itineraries

The Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) revealed yesterday that the second-phase review of the “Macao Tourism Development Master Plan,” featuring new forecast figures and action plans aimed at enhancing tourism in Macao, will be released later this year.

MGTO director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes told reporters at a public event: that the bureau will “approach the reexamination of [traveler] data with a balanced perspective, combining optimism with caution”.

“This initiative will encompass not only improvements in hardware products but also the introduction of innovative attractions in travel itineraries, particularly new routes for travel agencies to offer,” she said.

She disclosed details about the authorities’ initiatives and future plans, stating that they had experimented with various new projects during the Covid-19 pandemic and expressed hopes of launching several activities soon.

“We have gathered fresh ideas by soliciting study tour itineraries and signing cooperation agreements with travel agencies. Our goal is to provide more diverse itineraries for people to choose from in the future, whether for study tours or general tourism,” the tourism chief said.

However, she noted that she currently lacked specific data on study tour groups but emphasized her commitment to continue collecting relevant information.

With summer vacation underway, Senna Fernandes emphasized the need for authorities to adjust the projected number of tourists for next summer, as well as review data from the previous year.

“At the beginning of the year, we estimated that the overall number of visitors would range between 38 million and 39 million, and the actual figures for the first half of the year closely aligned with our predictions,” she stated.

“We will review these figures and monitor trends as we approach the upcoming summer vacation […] Vacationer numbers are typically reliable, but there are concerns that may impact them, such as the potential for storms and other unforeseen factors. These elements can influence the number of vacationers during specific periods of the summer season,” said Senna Fernandes, who noted the office’s focus on the hotel occupancy rate and preliminary estimates for visitor arrivals during these two months.

The MGTO is dedicated to continuing to attract international visitors to Macau in the second half of the year.

To achieve this, it plans to host roadshows in Lisbon, Portugal, as well as Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and Jakarta, Indonesia, during September and October. In addition to these in-person promotions, the authorities will enhance their online presence through collaborations with influencers to broaden their outreach, culminating in a major event in October featuring global influencers.

This event will build on the success of the influencer gathering held in mainland China in June, further strengthening Macao’s appeal as a travel destination.

“There will be many related plans this year, but we cannot rely solely on Macau itself; we must also consider the impact of surrounding areas,” said Senna Fernandes.

“We can optimize the use of Guangzhou Baiyun Airport, particularly with visa-free or visa-facilitation policies in place for many countries. We are exploring ways to leverage this for enhanced cooperation. These topics are part of our ongoing discussions. Next week, we will hold a promotional event in Guangzhou and engage in talks with Guangdong Province to seek more mutually beneficial opportunities, especially for international travelers,” she added.

The authorities indicated their commitment to collaborating with various airlines in the future to explore “one-stop, multi-destination” projects with neighboring regions, aiming to attract more international visitors to Macau. “We will continue to advance in this direction,” the tourism chief stated.

Visitor arrivals top 20 million weeks ahead of schedule

Macau welcomed its 20 millionth inbound tourist at 11 a.m. yesterday, reaching this milestone 26 days earlier than in 2024, according to the Public Security Police (PSP). This surge translates to an average of about 106,000 daily visitors this year.

PSP data show Mainland Chinese tourists accounting for 71.6% of inbound visitors, followed by visitors from Hong Kong at 19.1%. Visitors from Taiwan and other international markets constituted 2.4% and 6.9%, respectively.

The majority of arrivals entered through the Border Gate, which handled 41% of visitors, while the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Macau Port and Hengqin Port accounted for 24.1% and 13.5%, respectively.

Authorities anticipate further increases during the upcoming summer vacation and have enhanced collaboration with immigration and border inspection agencies in mainland China and Hong Kong to ensure smooth and secure customs clearance.

Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, director of the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), described the latest figures as “very encouraging.”

Speaking to the press on the sidelines of an event in Cotai, the MGTO director expressed optimism about the summer outlook, emphasizing that efforts are ongoing to monitor hotel occupancy and encourage travel agencies to develop new routes.

The MGTO director also highlighted initiatives to attract more international tourists, including partnerships with airlines and leveraging Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport as a transit hub. Ns