Macau’s tourism sector recorded continued growth through July and early August, although international visitor numbers have remained largely unchanged, according to the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO). The number of international visitors fell short of the Government's expectations.
MGTO Deputy Director Ceng Wai Tong told reporters that overall visitor arrivals for July rose by approximately 2% year-on-year, while the first half of August recorded a more encouraging 10% increase.
Despite the August uptick, the stagnation in international arrivals is worrying officials, a trend Cheng attributed to external factors, including geopolitical uncertainties and reduced flight capacity.
The MGTO is now stepping up collaboration with carriers and online travel platforms to stimulate international visitor flows. However, Chang did not specify when improvements could be expected.
Macau is set for a busy second half of 2026, with events including the International Fireworks Display Contest, Macau Grand Prix, Food Festival and Light Festival expected to support tourism.
The MGTO will coordinate external promotion of Government-organized activities to sustain the August momentum.
Macau is seeking to spread tourism spending beyond major attractions by promoting local neighborhoods, heritage food and cultural experiences.
The MGTO is developing new tourism installations and campaigns, including partnerships around local food and cultural IP, with a focus on areas along Tourism and “Leisure” Bus routes.
Against this backdrop, the number of participants and attendees at Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) events for Q2 2026 increased 37.6% year-on-year to 314,000. This is despite the number of MICE events remaining broadly in line with last year’s figures.
Macau’s gaming sector recorded total gross gaming revenue (GGR) of MOP 126.9bn ($15.7bn) for the first half of the year, representing a 6.8% year-on-year increase
