Macau is on track to receive between 38 and 39 million visitors in 2025, according to Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, director of the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO). The official said authorities remain confident about reaching the target as the city continues to attract strong regional tourism flows.
Official data show that Macau recorded a total of 29.67 million visitor arrivals in the first three quarters of 2025, representing a 14.5 percent year-on-year increase. If total arrivals reach 39 million or more, Macau will have fully recovered from the impact of COVID-19, as the city’s historical peak was nearly 39.4 million visitors in 2019.
Speaking ahead of the Macau Grand Prix, which will take place from November 13th to 16th, Senna Fernandes said hotel occupancy rates during the four-day event are expected to exceed 90 percent, similar to previous years.
However, she also noted a growing trend of visitors traveling in organized groups that stay in nearby Hengqin before crossing into Macau for sightseeing. “This pattern helps stimulate tourism cooperation and economic integration between Macau and its neighboring regions,” she said.
Senna Fernandes acknowledged that the number of group travelers has not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels, attributing this to changing travel behaviors. “Post-pandemic, tourists increasingly rely on social media and online platforms to gather information, compare prices, and plan trips independently,” she said.
Nonetheless, she emphasized that this does not indicate a decline in the travel agency sector. Instead, it represents an opportunity for industry players to adapt by offering smaller, family-style, or customized tour options to meet evolving market preferences.
