Travel trade sees potential growth from Middle Eastern visitors in H2

Andy Wu, president of the Travel Industry Council of Macau (TICM), anticipates a rise in Middle Eastern tourists following the July 17 implementation of visa-free and pre-entry permit exemptions for citizens of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman.

Earlier this year, Wu told local Chinese media about the significant efforts Macau has made over the past two years to attract Muslim travelers, including initiatives by government entities to introduce the characteristics of Muslims and Islam, explain halal food certification, and assist small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in obtaining halal certification.

Regarding Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai’s recent directive granting visa-free entry and pre-entry permit exemptions to nationals from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman for up to 30 days, Wu described it as a major advancement.

He emphasized that these nations have higher per capita incomes, representing a substantial source of high-value visitors.

As of 2023, online reports indicate that the combined population of these five countries is nearly 47.4 million, with Saudi Arabia having the largest population at 33.26 million.

The per capita GDP in these nations is generally high, with Qatar leading at over USD80,000, ranking 11th globally, while Saudi Arabia and Kuwait both exceed USD30,000, placing them in the upper-middle range worldwide.

In a recent interview with another Chinese media outlet, a travel agency representative noted that inquiries from Middle Eastern customers began as early as July, expressing optimism that visitor traffic will gradually rise in the second half of the year.

“We’ve started receiving inquiries from Middle Eastern customers. However, after the visa-free policy takes effect, we expect visitors from these countries won’t arrive in Macau all at once; it will take time for the system to adjust. We believe customer traffic will steadily increase in the latter half of the year.”

The Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO) announced in June that Macau has made its debut on the 2025 Global Muslim Travel Index, ranking fifth among non-OIC countries in the “Muslim-Friendly Destinations for Women” category and 16th in the “Muslim-Friendly Travel Destinations” category.

Wu believes the government’s efforts in promoting halal certification have resulted in a growing number of small shops selling Middle Eastern food in the local market, positively encouraging SMEs to explore related business opportunities.

Wu said Macau’s ongoing development of the halal market will enhance visitors’ experiences and enrich their travel journeys. He is confident that the halal customer base will continue to grow in the future.

However, he also pointed out that focusing solely on growth figures for Middle Eastern visitors may not be entirely objective or meaningful, given their low baseline numbers.