SBC News Macau census records visitor low in March

Macau census records visitor low in March

macau

Macau’s city census has reported a 13.5% decline to 2.37 million in tourist visits to the province this March, recording its lowest figure since September 2012. The Macau census noted a steep decline of 18% to 1.46 million in tourists arriving from mainland China.

The poor tourist results for March, had reversed the slight visitor growth witnessed during January and February 2015. Total visitor arrivals in Q1 2015 have declined 3.6% year-on-year, as the gambling hub struggles to adjust to new anti-corruption measures imposed by the Chinese Security Ministry.

Further bad news for the province has seen Asian news sources report that gaming revenues in Macau fell 39% to approximately MOP 21.5 billion ($2.7 billion) in March.

Macau gambling and leisure enterprises have raised concerns to mainland China regarding the city’s economic health, as its gaming clients appear to be flocking to casinos in South Korea, Thailand and Australia.

At present it appears unlikely that the Chinese Security Ministry will change its stance as Chinese Premier Xi Jinping has outlined eliminating state corruption as a principal aim for his tenure. At the start of 2015, Xi Jinping stated to Macau officials that the city needed to move its industry away from its reliance on gambling.

However Macau commentators have stated that in order for Macau to change its industry, the province needs to maintain its visitor numbers who are vital to industries and services outside of gambling. Macau Hotel and leisure enterprises have seen their worst year of trade, noting that they have seen a steep decline in bookings.

Numerous Asian business analysts are fearing the worst year of growth for Macau, with some speculating a yearly decline of between 35-40% in revenues

Check Also

SBC News Gambling Harm APPG: Premier League must explain 'toxic' TGP presence

Gambling Harm APPG: Premier League must explain ‘toxic’ TGP presence

The Premier League has been threatened with an investigation unless club bosses ‘provide satisfactory answers’ …

BetConstruct

BetConstruct offers support to land-based casinos amid COVID-19 pandemic

BetConstruct has stepped in to support land-based casinos amid the COVID-19 pandemic by live streaming …

SafeEnt

The Biggest Miss: How Sweden might inadvertently create a black market for betting

Ismail Vali, Senior Consultant for iGaming Leaders, delivers a two-part explanation about how operators in …