Arrivals hit 427,122 in February
Bigger numbers helped by a massive influx of mainlanders who favour the Individual Visit Scheme.
Macao’s visitor arrivals rose by 173.1 per cent year-on-year to 427,122 last month.
The Statistics and Census Bureau (DSEC) announced that the Covid-19 epidemic intensified in February last year, which would have had an effect on the numbers. Macao confirmed its first novel coronavirus disease case on 22 January 2020.
Month-on-month, February’s visitor arrivals fell by 23.3 per cent. The DSEC attributed the decline to a string of Covid-19 prevention and control measures imposed by many countries and regions.
Year-on-year, overnight visitors (245,309) and same-day visitors (181,813) increased by 225.8 per cent and 124.2 per cent last month. Visitors’ average length of stay dropped by 0.9 of a day year-on-year to 1.9 days.
The number of mainland visitors leapt by 426.4 per cent year-on-year to 380,649, or 89.1 per cent of the total number. The number of mainlanders travelling under the Individual Visit Scheme (163,157) soared by 2,702 per cent, The Macau Post Daily reported.
Last month also recorded 40,037 visitors from Hong Kong and 6,410 visitors from Taiwan.
Foreigners without the right of residence in Macao have been barred from entering Macao since March last year.
In the first two months, the number of visitor arrivals declined by 67.3 per cent year-on-year to 983,887.
