Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO) Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes said yesterday that Macau’s number of visitor arrivals has recovered to a “steady and satisfactory level” by reaching more than 50 percent of those in Macau’s pre-pandemic period, i.e., prior to 2020.

Senna Fernandes made the remarks on the sidelines of yesterday afternoon’s International Children’s Day Fair at the Workers Stadium next to the Barrier Gate border checkpoint, saying that the three-day Buddha’s Birthday holiday period between Friday and yesterday recorded more than 90,000 visitor arrivals on Friday and Saturday, most of them from Hong Kong, adding that the current daily average of arrivals on weekdays (Monday through Friday) stands at about 60,000 people.

Buddha’s Birthday is a public holiday in Macau and Hong Kong but not in the mainland and Taiwan.

Senna Fernandes said that in the long run, she hoped to attract more visitors with Macau’s tourism attractions, adding that, however, some of the passenger ticket discounts for visiting Macau will be discontinued soon.

Senna Fernandes said that the bureau will organise roadshows in Singapore, South Korea and Thailand in the near future, adding that the first “Macao Week” roadshow this year will be held in the northern port city of Qingdao on June 9, followed by the Tianjin “Macao Week” roadshow at the end of August. She also said that MGTO was currently discussing with its Xiamen counterparts the viability of holding another “Macao Week” roadshow there in October.

According to Senna Fernandes, this year’s Macao International Travel (Industry) Expo (MITE) will be held at the end of next month and overseas travel agents’ associations will be invited to visit Macau for the event, adding that the government has worked with travel agencies and airlines to provide subsidies for overseas, mainland and Taiwan visitors attending MITE. 

Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO) Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes talks to reporters yesterday on the sidelines of yesterday’s International Children’s Day Fair at the Workers Stadium next to the Barrier Gate border checkpoint.
– Photo courtesy of TDM