Macau has reopened with a flurry of promotions and activities to promote Macau's “Tourism +” entertainment and activities.

A new mascot Mak Mak, a black-faced spoonbill bird with the iconic Guia Lighthouse on its head, will guide visitors through the new developments in Macao.

As travel across the borders resumes with Hong Kong as Macau’s second largest feeder market, the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) has launched promotional campaigns with special offers on transportation tickets between both cities.

In addition to updates to the Experience Macao App, visitors can also track real-time foot traffic to better plan their travel to places of interests.

Macao saw 451,000 visitors throughout the latest Spring Festival Golden Week (21–27 January 2023), with 165,000 arriving from Hong Kong. Average daily visitor arrivals over the Spring Festival Golden Week reached 64,000, a year-on-year rise of 297% and the average daily volume of Hong Kong visitors surged by 2,602%.

Mak Mak, the tourism mascot for Macau. Photo Credit: Juliana Loh

Twin-destination tourism: Hong Kong and Macau

Strategic promotions and plans are in place to develop twin destination travel targeting Chinese travellers and the international markets, particularly Southeast Asia and the regions that have direct flights into both Macau and Hong Kong.

MGTO deputy director Cheng Wai Tong shared that while recovery is a gradual process, flights and ferry sailings are being reinstated, “We are focusing on collaborative Hong Kong and Macau activities. We will see how we can better promote this twin destination travel for both tour groups and FIT travel.

“International travel has resumed, however regional flights are still limited, so our current efforts are more focused on the local markets, and we will unfold further plans as we continue in this growth trajectory.”

AirAsia flights have resumed to Macau as of 14 February, which should see uptake of travellers arriving from Malaysia and Thailand, both large feeder markets for Macao.

The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau road border, which has facilitated convenient border crossings for those who prefer travelling by land, is currently a preferred mode of travel with limited ferries in operation. Promotions on transportation tickets have been introduced to encourage more cross-border travel.

Meanwhile, the Hengqin Cooperation Zone connects Macau and Hong Kong to China through various ports of entry and Chinese airports – including Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport and Zhuhai Airport.

What’s new and hot in Macau

teamLab brings its immersive digital art installations to The Venetian Macao's Cotai Expo Hall F. Photo Credit: Juliana Loh

Since 2020, new hotels have opened in Macau, with more openings in the pipeline: Raffles and Andaz at Galaxy Macao, Palazzo Versace, W Hotels at Studio City and Resorts World Macao.

The reopening of The Londoner, Grand Lisboa Palace (including the Karl Lagerfeld Hotel), Lisboeta Hotel (Line hotel, Maison L’Occitane) is expected to add at least another 10,000 rooms to the city when these properties operate at full capacity.

Accompanying The Londoner Hotel and all-suite hotel, Londoner Court, the new Londoner Arena with state-of-the-art capabilities, will be a welcome addition to the meetings and conferences space.

Macau has stepped up its digital offerings with immersive experiences from St Paul’s Virtual Reality space; the Grand Prix Macao Museum, which expanded from one storey to four storeys and includes various VR activities from motorbike racing to changing tyres in the pit; to the permanent digital art installation by renowned art collective teamLab at The Venetian Macao’s Cotai Expo Hall F.