Macau recorded 1.14 million tourist arrivals during this year’s extended Golden Week holiday, according to official figures released by the city’s tourism authorities. The eight-day period, running from 1 to 8 October 2025, saw visitor numbers rise by 15 percent compared with the same period last year. However, the total fell slightly below government expectations, which had projected around 1.2 million visitors to the city.
Strong tourism recovery
Golden Week remains one of the most important travel and spending periods for Macau, driving both tourism and gaming revenues. The latest data show that despite external challenges, Macau continues to rebuild its visitor base. The 1.14 million total arrivals this year included tourists from mainland China and overseas markets, reflecting steady recovery in international travel to the region.
The Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) had earlier forecast a stronger inflow, expecting around 1.2 million visitors during the eight-day holiday. Even so, the results represent a major improvement over 2024 and point to continued resilience in the tourism sector. For comparison, 2019’s pre-pandemic Golden Week saw about 974,000 arrivals, indicating that tourism activity has now surpassed pre-Covid levels.
Seven-day figures also show growth
While this year’s Golden Week was extended to eight days, tourism numbers were strong even when measured across the standard seven-day period. The MGTO reported 1.05 million visitors between 1 and 7 October, representing a 7.4 percent increase compared with the same timeframe last year.
Hotel occupancy across Macau’s integrated resorts and city hotels remained high throughout the week, supported by attractive packages and entertainment offerings. Industry data indicate that bookings at major casino hotels reached near capacity during the first half of the holiday, reflecting renewed traveller confidence and higher demand for leisure activities.
Typhoon impact eases before holiday
Following the disruptions caused by Super Typhoon Ragasa in September, the most recent tourism statistics are good news for Macau’s businesses and residents. Due to the extreme weather, the city’s gaming regulator ordered a temporary 33-hour lockdown of all casinos and activated emergency protocols. The shutdown had an effect on September’s gross gaming revenue, which increased six percent annually but was below analysts’ forecasts.
Local authorities and casino operators worked quickly to restore normal operations in time for Golden Week. The timely reopening, combined with stable travel conditions across mainland China, helped ensure that the tourism rebound remained on track.
Analysts expect strong October performance
Industry analysts now expect October’s gaming and tourism performance to be among the strongest in recent years. The combination of sustained visitor inflows, improved hotel occupancy rates, and consistent gaming activity could see Macau’s total monthly revenue reach its highest level in six years.
The results from Golden Week underline the city’s growing resilience and the continued importance of tourism-led economic recovery. With infrastructure improvements and new attractions planned for late 2025, the MGTO and casino operators are optimistic about maintaining momentum through the remainder of the year.
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