In May 2024, Macau experienced a significant resurgence in visitor arrivals, marking a notable recovery compared to both the previous year and pre-pandemic levels in 2019. The Statistics and Census Service reported a total of 2,692,191 visitors, reflecting a robust 21.6% increase year-on-year and reaching 79.3% of the May 2019 figures.
Overall Visitor Trends
The month-on-month comparison also showed a 3.5% rise from April, driven primarily by the “May Day” Golden Week holiday period. This increase highlights Macau’s continued attractiveness as a travel destination, particularly during key holiday seasons.
Regional Breakdown
Mainland China contributed significantly to this growth, with arrivals increasing by 25.9% year-on-year to 1,856,283 visitors. Hong Kong, however, experienced a slight decline of 3.3%, totaling 582,083 arrivals. Taiwan, on the other hand, saw a remarkable surge of 120%, reaching 68,971 visitors. Notably, Hong Kong visitor numbers matched those of May 2019, indicating stabilization in cross-border travel patterns.
International Arrivals
International arrivals totaled 184,854, marking a substantial 74.4% increase year-on-year and recovering to 61.3% of the May 2019 levels. South Korea led international arrivals with 33,999 visitors, achieving 51.7% recovery compared to 2019, followed closely by the Philippines with 35,852 visitors, representing 73.8% recovery over the same period.
Mode of Arrival
The majority of visitors arrived via land routes, totaling 2,100,821, which was a 20.5% increase from the previous year. Arrivals by sea also saw a modest increase of 6.6%, totaling 332,341, while arrivals by air experienced the most significant surge at 63.7%, totaling 259,029.
Visitor Demographics and Stay Patterns
The composition of visitors included 1,430,741 same-day visitors, marking a robust 27.2% increase year-on-year, and 1,261,450 overnight visitors, reflecting a 15.9% increase. The average length of stay remained stable year-on-year at 1.2 days, underscoring Macau’s status as a popular destination for short-term visits.
Year-to-Date Performance
For the first five months of 2024 combined, Macau welcomed a total of 14,168,665 visitors, reflecting a substantial 50.2% increase year-on-year and recovering to 82.4% of the same period in 2019. This data reinforces Macau’s gradual recovery trajectory, signaling positive momentum in its tourism sector.
Macau’s tourism industry in May 2024 demonstrated robust growth across various metrics compared to both the previous year and pre-pandemic levels in 2019. The recovery was driven by increased mainland Chinese and international arrivals, buoyed by favorable holiday periods and improved cross-border travel conditions. Looking ahead, sustaining this growth trajectory will depend on continued regional stability and effective tourism strategies to capitalize on emerging travel trends.