The Macao Special Administrative Region Government Tourism Office expects that during the National Day Golden Week from October 1 to 8, Macao will receive about 1.2 million tourist visits, with an average daily visitor volume of 150,000. This expectation is slightly higher than the same period in 2024, mainly due to the relaxation of tourism policies and the overlapping of the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holidays. During the Golden Week, the hotel occupancy rate in Macao is expected to exceed 90%, and various cultural activities and temporary traffic measures will also be implemented.
Visitor Forecast and Growth Factors
The Director of the Macao Special Administrative Region Government Tourism Office, Wen Qi Hua, stated that the average daily visitor volume during this year's National Day Golden Week is expected to reach 150,000, with a total of about 1.2 million entries over eight days. This figure is slightly higher than the 141,000 per day in the same period in 2024.
The growth is mainly attributed to two factors: the government's recent relaxation of tourism policies, and the creation of a longer continuous holiday period due to the overlap of the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holidays. Residents of Zhuhai can now apply for a Macao visa once a week (previously once every two months), and Hengqin residents also enjoy multiple-entry policies, making travel more convenient and frequent.
Hotel Industry Reception Capacity and Demand
Macao currently has about 47,000 hotel rooms, and the occupancy rate during the Golden Week is expected to exceed 90%. The hotel occupancy rate in Macao has remained high throughout 2025, with August being particularly notable.
Surveys show that over 20 casino resorts have had their rooms booked out for at least five nights during the holiday period. The Director of the Tourism Office pointed out that although room prices usually rise during peak periods, this year's prices have shown a "rational" increase trend, rather than a sharp spike. New hotel development projects in the Hengqin Guangdong-Macao In-depth Cooperation Zone will further enhance reception capacity in the future.
Annual Tourism Performance and Trends
In the first eight months of 2025, Macao has already received nearly 26.9 million tourist visits, a 15% increase year-on-year. August set a record with 4.22 million visits in a single month, averaging 136,000 per day.
If the current growth momentum continues, the total number of tourists in Macao for the entire year is expected to reach 39 million, surpassing the pre-pandemic level of 2019. Wen Qi Hua is "very optimistic" about the performance during the Golden Week and expects the occupancy rate to be very ideal.
Traffic Management and Tourist Diversion
To cope with the high volume of people during the holiday period, Macao authorities will set up temporary pedestrian zones in Taipa Old Town and near the Ruins of St. Paul's on Rua de Nossa Senhora do Amparo. From October 1 to 7, some sections of these areas will implement pedestrian restrictions from noon to evening.
The government also plans to guide tourists to explore areas outside the core casino resorts, especially those relying on small and medium-sized enterprises, to promote a more balanced distribution of economic benefits.
Cultural Activities and Festival Arrangements
During the Golden Week, Macao will host multiple cultural events and festival markets. Taipa Old Town will host markets and performances near the Yilong Firecracker Factory, and Rua de Nossa Senhora do Amparo will host the "Gong Gong Night Market" from October 1 to 5.
Macao will also host the "Zoo Music Festival" at the old site of the firecracker factory from October 1 to 5, attracting evening visitors through live entertainment performances. The 33rd Macao International Fireworks Competition Gathering will also take place, with teams from China and Portugal performing on October 1, and teams from the Philippines and Japan postponed to October 2 due to a typhoon.
Long-term Strategy and Economic Development
After the Golden Week, Macao officials plan to further promote the diversification of the tourism economy. Macao has been actively promoting the "concert economy," attracting local and international performers and using entertainment events to disperse tourists to areas such as the new port.
Innovative measures include offering free access to the Macao Grand Prix Museum for tourists holding concert or performance tickets. These measures are part of Macao's broad strategy to closely integrate tourism with cultural and economic development, aiming to create a more sustainable and diversified tourism economic model.
