Total visitor arrivals to Macau across the extended eight day Golden Week reached 990,631 according to final figures released by the Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO), with 76,109 people coming into the city on Sunday 8 October.
This year’s Golden week, which saw both National Day and the Mid-Autumn Festival fall within the eight-day holiday, included an extra day on 2016, when 756,670 people arrived between 1 to 7 October. The 844,522 that arrived through the first seven days of this year’s holiday represented an 11.6% increase.
Visitation from mainland China reached 696,636 across the eight days of Golden Week, constituting 75.7% of total visitor arrivals to Macau. In the first seven days of the period, visitor arrivals from the Mainland hit 647,352, an increase of 9.6%, whereas visitor arrivals from Taiwan and Hong Kong also increased by 20.1% and 6.4% respectively.
The increase in arrivals also saw hotel occupancy and room rates increase, with the average occupancy rate of 3-star to 5-star hotels at 95.9% – up 3.1% on 2016 levels. It included a 97.6% occupancy rate in 5-star hotels, representing an increase of 3.2%
The average room rate of hotels and guest houses in Macau was MOP$1,829.80 during Golden Week, a year-on-year increase of 7%. The average room rates of 5-Star and 4-Star hotels were MOP$2,120.30 and MOP$1,395.60, up 4.3% and 13.1% respectively. The average room rates of 3-Star and 2-Star hotels were MOP$1,375.10 and MOP$1,129.10 respectively, an increase of 12.6% and 50.9%.
The MGTO said it conducted 94 inspections at ports of entry and major tourist spots during Golden Week, including several actions in conjunction with police. The Office also “inspected 56 premises and sealed four premises allegedly operated as illegal accommodation.”
