The Chinese New Year holiday is crucial for Macau casinos. With strong hotel bookings, operators hope for a prosperous start to the Year of the Snake and a boost to gaming revenue.
Macau casinos are bracing for a surge in visitors during the Chinese New Year holiday (January 29 - February 4). Strong hotel bookings, with at least 21 luxury hotels sold out for four or more nights and high room rates, indicate significant demand.
This crucial week is expected to boost the gambling hub's performance, with operators hoping for a prosperous start to the Year of the Snake. Last year saw a post-holiday rally in casino operator stocks due to high tourist numbers, and analysts are watching closely to see if this year's figures meet or exceed expectations.
China's expanded Individual Visa Scheme, allowing easier access for Zhuhai and Hengqin residents, is projected to add 20,000 daily visitors. The Chinese New Year period is known for massive travel, with hundreds of millions expected to travel by rail and air across China.
Macau's tourism office anticipates daily arrivals could reach 185,000, further fueling optimism for casinos.
While the holiday offers a short-term boost, opinions on Macau's full-year revenue outlook are mixed. Some analysts, like Macquarie and Seaport Research, believe current growth forecasts are too low, citing stimulus measures and tourism initiatives.
Others, like CreditSights, are more cautious, pointing to potential weakness in consumer spending. JP Morgan predicts moderate growth, while the Macau government remains the most optimistic, projecting a significant increase in gaming revenue. With the holiday expected to bring a major influx of tourists, Macau's gaming industry aims to maximize the opportunity.
Macau's visitor arrivals on the first day of the Lunar New Year Golden Week (Tuesday) totaled 78,968, a 34.9% drop compared to the first day of Golden Week in 2024. (Numbers will be updated as soon as the figures come in.) However, the start of the Golden Week in 2025 fell on a Tuesday, while 2024’s was a Friday, making a direct comparison difficult.
Arrivals from mainland China and Hong Kong were down 36.8% and 40.1% respectively. The majority of visitors entered through the Border Gate and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge.
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