Over 757,000 visitors flocked to Macao during the first four days of the five-day Labour Day holiday period, marking a significant 42.3 percent increase compared to the same period last year. The influx of visitors, driven by a surge in mainland Chinese and Hong Kong arrivals, prompted local authorities to implement special traffic control measures and pedestrian zones to manage the crowds.
According to data from the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), mainland Chinese visitors accounted for the bulk of the arrivals, totaling 618,104 — a year-on-year increase of 40.1 percent. Meanwhile, arrivals from Hong Kong also saw a sharp rise of 49.2 percent, with 90,472 visitors recorded during the first four days of the holiday.
The second day of the Labour Day break saw nearly 222,000 visitors, surpassing the previous post-pandemic record set during the Spring Festival and nearly matching the pre-pandemic peak of 226,000 in 2019. The surge in tourism activity led to record-breaking activity at Macao’s border checkpoints, with 837,000 entries and exits recorded on Friday, the second day of the holiday, setting a new single-day high.
To ensure smooth operations amidst the heightened visitor numbers, the Public Security Police implemented special control measures near popular tourist sites, such as the Ruins of St. Paul’s. For the first time during a Labour Day holiday, a section of Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro was temporarily closed to vehicular traffic, creating a pedestrian zone. Similar measures were introduced in Taipa Village.
The city’s business and community sectors have generally expressed support for the government’s proactive measures to handle the increased tourism activity, ensuring a safe and efficient experience for visitors.
