Macau Tourism Surges During Christmas Holiday Period
Macau’s tourism sector saw a strong lift over the recent holiday stretch, with preliminary data showing that more than 724,800 visitors entered the city between December 20 and December 25. The six-day period, which covered Christmas and several public holidays, reinforced Macau’s position as a leading regional travel destination.
Figures released by the Public Security Police indicate that average daily arrivals during the period reached approximately 120,800 visitors, reflecting steady traffic across the city’s main entry points and sustained holiday demand.
Holiday Peak Driven by Anniversary Celebrations
Visitor volumes peaked on December 20, which marks the anniversary of the establishment of the Macau Special Administrative Region. On that day alone, authorities recorded 149,484 arrivals. The surge mirrors patterns seen in previous years, when the anniversary date typically generates heavier travel flows, often accompanied by heightened congestion at border crossings.
Regional Calendars Shape Travel Flows
The timing of the holiday period played a key role in driving visitor numbers. While Christmas is not a public holiday in mainland China, Macau’s largest source market, it is officially observed in Hong Kong, the city’s second-largest contributor of tourists. With December 26 also recognized as a public holiday in Hong Kong, authorities expect that cross-border travel may have extended beyond the initial six-day reporting window.
Key Border Crossings Remain Critical
Although a detailed breakdown by visitor origin has yet to be published, officials confirmed that the vast majority of arrivals entered Macau via the Border Gate connecting to mainland China or through the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge. Both crossings continue to serve as vital channels supporting tourism flows from the Greater Bay Area.
Capping a Year of Strong Recovery
The solid Christmas-period performance adds to a broader recovery trend seen throughout 2025. Earlier statements from Macao Government Tourism Office director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes indicated that the city had already welcomed 36.5 million visitors in the first 11 months of the year, surpassing the total recorded in 2024.
Looking Ahead
The latest figures suggest that Macau has maintained momentum through peak travel periods without relying on major event-driven attractions. As the year draws to a close, the focus is expected to shift toward sustaining growth while continuing efforts to broaden tourism offerings and manage long-term visitor demand.
