Macau sets new tourism record with 39.41M visitor arrivals | AGB
Summary
Macau has exceeded its pre-pandemic visitor total: cumulative arrivals reached 39.41 million as of 11:00 on 27 December, beating the full-year 2019 figure of 39.4 million, according to the Public Security Police.
Data breakdown shows mainland Chinese visitors made up 72.4% of arrivals, Hong Kong 18.3%, Taiwan 2.5% and other regions 6.8%. Authorities expect numbers to rise further ahead of New Year’s Eve and have increased police deployments to manage border crossings and countdown events.
A related update for Hengqin Port reported more than 30 million passenger crossings for the year (as of 13:00 on 28 December), an average daily flow of about 83,000 and a 32.6% year-on-year increase. Crossings comprised Macau residents (26.9%), tourists (38.9%), non-local tertiary students (17.9%), foreign workers (15.7%) and others (0.6%).
The figures align with Macao Government Tourism Office projections of 38–39 million visitors for 2025; MGTO director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes had expressed confidence in meeting those targets due to sustained regional travel demand.
Key Points
- Macau reported 39.41 million cumulative visitor arrivals as of 11:00 on 27 Dec 2025, surpassing the 2019 full-year total.
- Mainland China accounted for the majority (72.4%) of arrivals; Hong Kong visitors were the second largest group (18.3%).
- Authorities expect further increases around New Year’s Eve and have bolstered police presence for orderly border control and event safety.
- Hengqin Port recorded over 30 million crossings in 2025 to 1pm on 28 Dec, up 32.6% year-on-year, highlighting growing cross-border movement between the mainland and Macau.
- MGTO projections (38–39 million) were met or exceeded, reflecting strong regional travel demand that benefits Macau’s casinos, hotels and hospitality sectors.
Context and Relevance
For stakeholders in gaming, hospitality, transport and border management, this is a significant update: visitor volumes returning to and exceeding pre-pandemic levels signal robust demand and a recovery of Macau’s core tourism economy. The strong share of mainland travellers underlines Macau’s reliance on cross-border flows and the strategic importance of entry points such as Hengqin Port.
Higher arrivals affect staffing, hotel occupancy, transport capacity, regulatory oversight and event planning (especially around high-traffic dates like New Year’s Eve). They also matter to investors and operators tracking revenue recovery in integrated resorts and ancillary services.
Why should I read this?
Quick and simple — Macau just beat its 2019 visitor record. If you work in gaming, travel, hotels or any business that depends on footfall in Macau, this is useful intelligence. We skimmed the figures and picked out what matters so you don’t have to dig through the full release.