Macao is projected to see between 3.4 million and 3.5 million checkpoint crossings during the Labour Day holiday period, which runs from 1 to 5 May in mainland China.
According to the Public Security Police (PSP), the number of inbound and outbound trips in Macao is expected to hit a daily range between 680,000 and 700,000, with the peak period due to fall on 3 May.
Speaking to multiple media outlets, the chief of the PSP’s public relations division, Lei Tak Fai, said that “all personnel would be on duty” before peak periods arise.
Additional crossing channels will also be opened to deal with the influx, with governments in Macao, Hong Kong and Zhuhai set to ensure smooth and orderly movement of people through the exchange of real-time data.
Mainland government forecasts indicate that the Border Gate will be particularly busy during the break, with 370,000 crossings expected per day. Meanwhile, the Zhuhai Port of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge is anticipated to receive a daily average of around 127,000 people, while Qingmao Port and Hengqin Port are predicted to handle roughly 107,000 and 100,000 people.
[See more: Taipa Village will be partly car-free over the Labour Day holiday period]
As part of its preparation for the 5-day long holiday, the Transport Bureau announced a number of traffic control measures and bus route changes around Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro (colloquially known as San Ma Lo), Pak Kong car park and Taipa Village, which will be partially pedestrianised during the holiday period, from 12 pm to 7 pm.
Information on the temporary changes to the various bus routes can be found here.
Meanwhile, the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) has geared up for the influx by collaborating with the mainland travel platform, Trip.com, to introduce an index that gauges hotel demand. According to the data, the demand will peak on 1 May before fading gradually
The office is arranging a host of activities during the break period, including community tourism guided tours in the historic districts and the 2nd Family Adventure Macao Consumption Carnival.
Nationwide, China’s National Immigration Administration expects the country’s various ports to process an average of up to 2.15 million people per day during the Labour Day holiday period, up by 27 percent year-on-year.
