Macau’s tourism industry is bouncing back, with the number of international visitors in the first half of 2024 reaching nearly 1.17 million, a 1.4-fold increase year-on-year, according to provisional data from the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO).
The figure is about 67% of the same period in 2019, signaling a strong recovery.
Tourism growth has been particularly noticeable in the Central District, where many tourists visited popular tourist areas in the afternoon.
A Vietnamese tourist, in Macau for the first time, expressed to being drawn to the city’s blend of Chinese and Portuguese cultures, and chose to stay for four days with his family.
Similarly, a Malaysian tourist, surnamed Wong, was back for her second visit, taking her family on a leisure trip and purchasing various Macau-themed souvenirs, according to a TDM report.
Merchants have reported a positive trend, with international tourists, primarily from Southeast Asia, showing a strong interest in cultural and creative products from Portuguese-speaking countries and Macau itself.
Leong, the deputy store manager of a cultural and creative product store, said these tourists have strong spending power and that the store plans to train employees to introduce products in English to attract more customers.
Another souvenir shop owner, surnamed Chan, noted tourists from South Korea and Malaysia are particularly interested in Macau’s characteristic cakes and jerky products.
He said some employees can already serve customers in English and Japanese, ensuring smooth communication. The store remains optimistic about the influx of tourists during the upcoming summer vacation. Victoria Chan
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