Macao welcomed over 520,000 visitors during the Easter holiday period, from April 18 to April 21, a notable increase of 28.1% compared to the same period last year, according to data from the Public Security Police (PSP).
The Easter weekend saw a daily fluctuation in visitor numbers. On Good Friday, approximately 119,000 people arrived, followed by a peak of 161,000 on Holy Saturday. The number of arrivals slightly dropped to 140,000 on Easter Sunday, reflecting typical holiday travel patterns.
The majority of visitors hailed from mainland China, with around 327,000 mainland tourists accounting for nearly 63% of all arrivals. Hong Kong residents represented the second largest group, with 146,000 visitors, making up 28% of the total. Taiwan contributed 2%, with 10,000 arrivals, while international visitors, including tourists from countries outside of the region, numbered 37,000, or 7.1% of the total.
In total, Macao’s border checkpoints recorded 2.82 million entries and exits over the holiday weekend, a 14.6% increase compared to 2024. The Border Gate was the busiest entry point, handling 49.7% of the traffic, followed by Qingmao Port at 15.5%, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) at 15%, and Hengqin Port at 11.6%.
The Border Gate remained the most popular checkpoint for tourists, with approximately 200,000 visitors passing through. Meanwhile, the HZMB handled 144,818 arrivals, and the Hengqin Port saw 70,613, while the Taipa Ferry Terminal registered 34,816 crossings.
The holiday also saw a significant increase in vehicular traffic. The HZMB, in particular, experienced a surge in vehicles, with over 429,000 cars traveling between Zhuhai Port and Macao on Thursday and Friday, a 76.5% year-on-year increase. The number of inbound vehicles also set a new record on Thursday, reaching 145,000, a jump of 141.67% compared to last year.
The rise in visitor numbers during the Easter break surprised some industry experts. Andy Wu, head of the Travel Industry Council, noted that the daily average of approximately 130,000 visitors exceeded initial forecasts. Local businesses also benefited from the influx, with some reporting significant sales increases. A local souvenir shop owner shared with TDM that her sales jumped by 20 to 30% over the holiday period.
As Macao continues to recover from the pandemic’s economic impact, the Easter surge highlights the region’s growing appeal as a tourist destination and the positive impact on its local economy.
