In March 2024, Macau experienced a notable surge in visitor arrivals, driven primarily by mainland China, marking an increase of 39.0% year-on-year. Despite this impressive growth, the figures were down by 17.4% from the previous month.
Overview of March 2024 Visitor Arrivals
During March 2024, Macau welcomed a total of 2,720,584 visitors, reflecting a substantial rise from the same period the previous year. However, this figure represented a slight decline compared to February 2024, amounting to 80.3% of the visitor arrivals recorded in February 2019.
Mainland China Dominance
Mainland China emerged as the primary source of visitors to Macau in March 2024, contributing significantly to the overall surge. A total of 1,786,536 arrivals from mainland China were reported, marking a remarkable 43.8% increase year-on-year.
Key Regional Contributors
Following mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan contributed substantially to Macau’s visitor numbers. Hong Kong recorded 662,887 arrivals, marking a 6.5% increase from the previous year. Taiwan, with 62,605 arrivals, experienced a substantial 135% year-on-year growth.
International Visitor Highlights
Notably, the Philippines led international visitation with 40,686 arrivals, showcasing a remarkable 164% increase compared to the previous year. Korea also demonstrated impressive growth, with 37,123 arrivals, representing a staggering 665% increase.
Visitor Demographics: Same-Day vs. Overnight
In March 2024, same-day visitors and overnight visitors showed notable increases of 47.7% and 30.4% year-on-year, respectively. Despite these increases, the average length of stay remained consistent at 1.2 days.
First Quarter Performance
The robust performance in March 2024 contributed to an overall positive trend for the first quarter, as reported by the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO). The total visitor arrivals for the first quarter reached 8,875,757, marking a substantial 79.4% year-on-year increase.
The robust growth in visitor arrivals to Macau during March 2024, driven primarily by mainland China and buoyed by strong performances from neighboring regions and international markets, signals positive momentum for the region’s tourism sector. As Macau continues to attract diverse visitor demographics, the first quarter’s impressive performance sets an optimistic tone for the year ahead, underscoring the region’s enduring appeal as a premier destination in the Asia-Pacific.