Infrastructure Expansion Drive Macau Tourism Growth As Hospitality Sector Gears Up For National Day And Mid Autumn Festival

Published on September 29, 2025

Macau is gearing up to welcome an estimated 1.2 million visitors during the forthcoming National Day Golden Week holiday, a unique eight-day period from October 1 to 8 that this year coincides with both the National Day and the Mid-Autumn Festival. This extended holiday is expected to generate higher visitor volumes compared to previous years, attributed to favorable travel policies such as multiple-entry visas via Zhuhai and Hengqin. Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO) Director Helena de Senna Fernandes projects an average daily arrival of approximately 150,000 visitors, a growth anticipated to surpass the Golden Week figures of 2024.

Strong Hotel Demand and Market Stability

The robust tourism influx is expected to sustain Macau’s hotel occupancy rates well above 90 percent during the holiday, building upon August’s performance where occupancy rates already exceeded this figure. The Macau hotel market has witnessed consistent strength, with Fernandes emphasizing that while hotel rates typically increase during peak travel seasons, the current year’s adjustments remain measured and avoid sudden price spikes, ensuring affordability alongside growth. Macau currently boasts approximately 47,000 hotel rooms, with ongoing expansion plans particularly focused around the Guangdong-Macau In-Depth Cooperation Zone on Hengqin Island to address rising demand.

Visitor Growth Through 2025

Tourism to Macau has shown steady progress throughout 2025. August set a new monthly record with 4.22 million tourists marking a 15.5 percent increase compared to the previous year. The total number of visitors for the first eight months approached 26.9 million, reflecting a 15 percent year-on-year rise. The summer months of July and August combined drew 7.68 million visitors, averaging 123,000 arrivals per day—surpassing pre-pandemic levels by 7.4 percent. Peak single-day visitor numbers in this period reached 195,000.

Potential to Shatter Historical Records

Davis Fong, Director of the Institute for the Study of Commercial Gaming at the University of Macau, observed that if current growth trends continue, there is strong potential for Macau to exceed its all-time visitor record of 39 million annually, last achieved in 2019. This points to a vigorous recovery trajectory and a renewed global interest in Macau’s unique blend of tourism and gaming experiences.

Regional Cooperation and Diversification of Offerings

In response to increased demand, MGTO is actively promoting greater regional cooperation to amplify Macau’s tourism appeal. Efforts include expanding hotel infrastructure and collaborating closely with Hengqin and other Greater Bay Area cities to offer integrated package tours. These initiatives aim to support a sustainable influx of tourists while broadening the variety of experiences available, catering to diverse interests beyond gaming, and thus boosting Macau’s overall tourism sector resilience.

Community Engagement and Local Tourism Development

Aligned with a broader campaign to foster economic resilience and cultural exchange, MGTO marked World Tourism Day by welcoming a South Korean family arriving at Macau International Airport with gifts and electronic consumption cards. This approach represents a drive to motivate local spending and nurture community-led tourism initiatives, recognizing the role of domestic consumers in strengthening the city’s economic fabric alongside international visitors.

Optimistic Market Prospects

As Macau approaches the bustling National Day Golden Week, the tourism sector anticipates a strong season fueled by easier travel restrictions and deepened regional cooperation. The combination of steady visitor recovery and strategic infrastructure investments positions Macau to leverage this momentum, reinforcing its status as a premier tourism and gaming hub in Asia. Market participants remain hopeful that the city’s demonstrated capacity to accommodate increasing numbers will continue, ensuring high-quality visitor experiences during one of its most significant annual events.