Macau visitor arrivals set new monthly record in August
Macau welcomed 4,219,034 visitors in August 2025, setting a new monthly high according to the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC). The figure represented a 15.5 percent increase compared with the same month last year and reflected strong demand during the summer holiday season.
The month saw growth in both same-day and overnight trips. Same-day arrivals rose 25.1 percent year-on-year to 2.55 million, while overnight stays increased 3.4 percent to 1.67 million. Despite the overall expansion, the average length of stay remained stable at 1.1 days, with same-day visitors averaging 0.3 days and overnight visitors averaging 2.3 days.
From January to August, total arrivals reached 26.9 million, representing a 15 percent increase from the same period in 2024. Within this total, same-day visits expanded 25.5 percent to 15.7 million, while overnight stays grew 2.9 percent to 11.2 million.
Mainland China remains leading source
Visitors from mainland China continued to dominate August traffic, with 3.25 million arrivals, an 18.4 percent year-on-year rise. Travel under the Individual Visit Scheme (IVS) increased by 22.2 percent to 1.79 million.
New measures introduced in 2025 supported growth. About 205,000 travellers entered under the “one trip per week” arrangement, 69,000 under the “multiple-entry” policy, and nearly 25,000 under the “tourist group multi-entry” option.
Arrivals from the nine Pearl River Delta cities in the Greater Bay Area climbed 23.5 percent to 1.66 million, led by a 56.7 percent jump from Zhuhai. Traffic from Hong Kong increased by 2.8 percent to 682,000, while Taiwan contributed 89,000 visitors, marking a 21 percent uplift.
International markets expand reach
The DESC said that international arrivals reached 190,000 in August, up 17.3 percent compared with last year. Southeast Asia stood out as a driver of growth. Visitors from Thailand more than doubled to 13,400, while the Philippines sent 38,400 travellers, a 9.1 percent rise. Indonesia and Malaysia also posted increases, at 13,400 and 8,000 visitors respectively, with Singapore adding 6,600.
From South Asia, Indian arrivals edged up 1.2 percent to 7,800. In East Asia, Japanese visitors surged 57.2 percent to 16,600, but South Korea recorded a 4.7 percent decline to 35,200. Long-haul arrivals also gained ground, with the United States sending 11,800 travellers, up 14.2 percent.
Land crossings dominate arrivals
Land remained the primary mode of entry. In August, 3.57 million arrivals, or 84.6 percent of the total, came through land checkpoints, a 19.5 percent increase year-on-year. In contrast, arrivals by sea dropped 2.8 percent to 372,000, while air arrivals fell 2 percent to 277,000.
Policy changes continue to shape recovery
Macau’s tourism momentum builds on a strong recovery in 2024, when arrivals reached 32.5 million, nearly 88 percent of pre-pandemic levels. New immigration measures introduced this year have been instrumental in boosting flows, including expanded IVS access and multi-entry schemes for residents of Zhuhai and Hengqin.
Authorities are targeting a further rise in visitor numbers, supported by infrastructure investment and favourable travel policies.
