Macao could soon be offering complimentary ferry rides to international business travellers attending conferences and exhibitions in Hong Kong. The Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) confirmed it is studying the feasibility of the scheme in a written reply to legislator Ho Ion Sang, framing it as the next step in its push to grow international arrivals.
Since 2024, MGTO has offered free bus and ferry tickets from Hong Kong to Macao for international visitors arriving at the airport, drawing over 310,000 takers in its first year alone.
[See more: Ferry fares between Hong Kong and Macao to rise by around 10 percent]
A free bus scheme from Hong Kong International Airport is also currently running through the end of 2026 – though ferry tickets are not part of that offer yet. Eligible travellers are those from outside Greater China, meaning mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan visitors do not qualify.
The push for MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) visitors comes as the SAR’s industry undergoes notable growth. Macao held 1,861 MICE events in 2025, up 22.1 percent year-on-year, with non-gaming sector receipts rising 16.4 per cent to 6.28 billion patacas. Conference delegates are the highest-spending visitors in Macao by far, and they tend to travel outside peak holiday seasons – making them a valuable demographic for a destination trying to diversify its visitor mix. Hong Kong’s role as one of Asia’s busiest international hubs sweetens the opportunity.
[See more: Macao’s MICE sector posts strong full-year growth in 2025]
Macao drew 2.76 million international visitors in 2025, up 13.7 percent, and clocked over 750,000 in the first quarter of 2026 alone. The government has set its sights on hitting 3 million this year – just shy of the 3.07 million recorded before the pandemic.
No timeline has been announced. The proposal remains under review.
