Macao tourism officials are hoping that major upcoming events will increase arrivals by 25 per cent, giving the city’s finances a much-needed boost.
Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) Deputy Director Ricky Hoi Io Meng said that the recent average daily number of visitor arrivals was “stable”, at around 16,000 a day, adding he hoped that a raft of activities, such as the current 69th Grand Prix and the Macau Food Festival, which starts tomorrow, could boost the number of visitor arrivals to about 20,000 daily.
Hoi pointed out that the four-day Grand Prix, which started yesterday, was more “attractive,” due to the increased number of overseas drivers and riders competing in this year’s races.
Hoi said he believed that the current travel measure of holding a nucleic acid test result valid for 24 hours between Macao and Zhuhai would have “just a little impact” on those keen to watch the motor races.
Asked about the increase in the number of tourists from elsewhere in mainland China, Hoi said that Air Macau reported that its flights and load factors this month have increased, adding that the bureau will strive to launch more online and offline promotion campaigns in provinces other than Guangdong.
According to Hoi, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in Beijing has completed the procedures related to the resumption of tour groups to Macao from Guangdong, Fujian, Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai and is now in the assessment stage of its Covid-19 joint prevention and control mechanism.
Hoi said he believed that the result will be released after integrating the evaluations by mainland China’s Covid-19 pandemic prevention entities. Hoi pointed out that the timetable for the restart of tour groups to Macao has not yet been decided, adding he believed that the central government will continue supporting the development of Macao’s tourism industry and complete the procedures as soon as possible, The Macau Post Daily reported.
