Amidst the vibrant celebrations of Chinese New Year in Macao, tourism agencies are facing a surge in demand, prompting a scramble to secure additional drivers and vehicles.
Macao’s tourism officials are anticipating approximately 960,000 visitors during the eight-day Chinese New Year period.
The Association of Macau Tourist Agents predicts an influx of around 200 tour groups daily during the first week of the Spring Festival, surpassing a total of 1,400 groups.
Tang Ka Man, the association's vice-chairman, highlighted the unprecedented demand by stating that licensed tour bus drivers' employment rate during the holiday would exceed 100%.
Travel agencies are actively recruiting individuals with valid licenses to cater to the enthusiastic demand for experiencing Macao's unique Lunar New Year festivities.
Cheung Kin Chung, lawmaker and chairman of the association, acknowledged Macao's increasing allure as a tourism destination. He attributed this to the industry's ability to adapt to current trends and diverse customer bases, including young travellers, small groups, family tours, semi-group tours, and in-depth travellers.