Macau’s hotel industry has shown significant growth in recent months, marked by rising occupancy rates and increasing numbers of guests. According to data from the Census and Statistics Bureau (DSEC), May 2024 saw notable improvements across various metrics compared to previous years.
Occupancy Rates and Hotel Performance
In May 2024, Macau’s average hotel room occupancy rate climbed to 83.6%, reflecting a 4.9 percentage point increase from the previous year. This figure also surpassed the occupancy rate from May 2019 by 3.3%. The uptrend in occupancy was supported by an increase in the number of guests, which rose by 8.4% year-on-year to reach 1.196 million.
Hotel Categories and Performance
Among different hotel categories, 5-star hotels led the pack with an 85.3% occupancy rate, up by 6.4 percentage points year-on-year. 4-star hotels followed closely with a 79.7% occupancy rate, marking a 2.6 percentage point increase. However, 3-star hotels experienced a slight decline in occupancy to 80.8%.
Guest Demographics
The majority of hotel guests in May were from Mainland China, accounting for 870,000 stays and representing a 9.7% increase from the previous year. In contrast, guests from Hong Kong decreased by 17.4% to 164,000. International hotel guests saw a substantial rise of 66.1% year-on-year to 88,000.
Length of Stay
Despite these fluctuations in guest numbers, the average length of stay remained steady at 1.6 nights, showing a slight increase of 0.2 nights compared to May 2019.
Year-to-Date Performance
Looking at the cumulative data for the first five months of 2024, Macau’s hotels continued to perform well. The average room occupancy rate increased by 7.7% year-on-year to 84.3%, while the number of guests surged by 25% to 6.14 million. The average length of stay during this period maintained at 1.7 nights.
Inbound Tour Groups
A notable trend in May 2024 was the significant increase in inbound tour group visitors. The number reached 242,000, marking a staggering 190% year-on-year rise. Mainland China contributed significantly to this increase, with tour group visitors up by 170% to 219,000. International tour group visitors also saw a substantial surge, rising by 520% to 18,000. Among these, visitors from Korea notably increased by 620%.
Macau’s hotel industry in May 2024 demonstrated robust growth across various indicators, including occupancy rates, guest numbers, and inbound tourism. The data highlights the resilience and appeal of Macau as a tourism destination amidst changing global dynamics.