On average, Macao’s hotels were 78.6 percent full across September – a drop of slightly more than 10 percentage points from August, according to the latest figures from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC).
September saw 1,135,000 overnighters visit the SAR, more than 100,000 less than stayed in August. Their average length of stay was 1.6 nights, the same as it was in August and July.
As usual, mainland Chinese dominated the tally – making up 72 percent of September’s guests. Visitors from Hong Kong (17 percent) and Taiwan (3 percent) followed.
[See more: Macao is mainland China’s preferred travel destination, new data claims]
The latest figures show the lowest hotel occupancy rate seen since March this year, when accommodation providers were 77 percent full. But it must be noted that more hotels have opened since then, increasing competition and the SAR’s guest capacity. The early part of September also saw Macao hit by severe weather, which may have partly affected the figures.
In the first three quarters of 2023, 743,000 visitors arrived on package tours (133,000 in September alone), DSEC’s statement said. In the same period, 291,000 Macao residents purchased outbound travel services through agencies.
November’s figures should get a boost thanks to the 70th Macau Grand Prix. Macao’s tourism authorities have expressed confidence that hotel occupancy rates should top 90 percent across the two weekends the race is taking place.
