Macau Aims for 33 Million Tourists in 2024, IVS Expansion Boosts Arrivals

The tourism sector in Macau anticipates a notable upturn, aiming for 33 million visitors in 2024—a 17% increase from 2023. This optimism stems from China’s decision to extend the Individual Visit Scheme (IVS) to ten additional locations, which has led to a rise in the number of mainland Chinese tourists arriving.

The initial indications are encouraging. The number of tourists in cities that are new to the IVS, such Xi’an and Qingdao, returned to pre-pandemic levels in the first half of 2024. In all, 14.18 million visitors arrived, accounting for 82% of 2019 totals.

Additionally, tourism-related spending grew, with first-quarter expenditures rising by about 36% annually.

The recuperation extends beyond China’s mainland. Taiwan’s and Hong Kong’s arrivals increased by 144.2% and 4.6%, respectively, while foreign tourists increased by a significant 176%.

These trends are positive for Macau’s tourism comeback, even though they are not yet back to pre-pandemic levels.

Original Story by: Asian Gaming Brief