Shopkeepers say there isn’t enough tourist traffic outside of the main sightseeing areas and add that visitors are spending less money than they hoped.
Macao tourism
Visitors to Macao surged by 17 percent between July and August, but average hotel occupancy rates stayed flat as most travellers chose to stay for a day only.
New generations seek new tourism products, according to speakers at the Global Tourism Economy Forum.
The MGTO is launching a promotional campaign to persuade visitors to sample the pleasures of Macao’s overlooked northern suburbs.
The rise must be set against last year’s dismal performance and the first quarter GDP figures, which were the first growth Macao had experienced since late 2021.
Last month’s visitor totals reversed three consecutive months of decline – and hotels were able to benefit from the influx.
A summer surge in visitor numbers is welcome news for the tourism industry but comes amid figures showing sharp falls in visitor spending.
Per-capita spending by visitors is showing a steep decline from the first quarter of the year to the second, as tourists tighten their belts.
Last weekend’s influx will give cheer to the tourism industry, which saw a seven percent fall in the number of same-day visitors between April and June.
