The government is preparing a raft of measures to support small businesses in the ZAPE district as Macao’s satellite casinos wind up their operations, with a major consumption reward campaign set to launch in the fourth quarter, multiple media outlets report. ZAPE is home to most of the city’s satellite casinos; these are required by law to close by the end of 2025.
The Economic and Technological Development Bureau (known by its Portuguese initials DSEDT) said the campaign would be run in partnership with the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) and local electronic payment platforms, offering spending rewards to visitors in ZAPE. The authorities were also working with major mainland and overseas online travel platforms to roll out hotel and travel product discounts targeting the district.
A key element would involve working with mainland ticketing platforms to offer spending incentives to mainlanders purchasing tickets for events in Macao. The initiatives would be linked with city-wide festivals and large-scale concerts to encourage people into ZAPE’s shops and restaurants.
[See more: Satellite casinos in Macao: what their closure means for the future]
These plans were outlined in the government’s written response to lawmaker Ngan Iek Hang, who raised concerns about possible shocks in store for businesses currently reliant on satellite casinos to draw foot traffic to their district. Ngan urged authorities to develop ZAPE’s tourism potential, noting its cluster of three- and four-star hotels and favourable location between Macao’s Historic Centre and Outer Harbour.
Since June, DSEDT staff have been visiting ZAPE to meet with its merchants, offer guidance, and introduce SME support schemes – including loan interest subsidies, credit guarantees, and digitalisation assistance. The bureau was also working with the Land and Urban Construction Bureau to help integrate new zoning plans with feedback from relevant sectors of the community.
One new ZAPE invigoration measure launches today: a 10-day market that will see Rua de Cantão, Rua de Pequim, and Rua de Xangai transformed into pedestrian zones filled with food stalls and cultural booths.
