Six months since Uber returned to Macau as “Uber Taxi,” the company says its total number of completed trips has grown by five times over the initial launch period – driven by strong Hong Kong user demand and a spike in activity during major concert events.
Now Macau Uber is looking to boost use by visitors from mainland China, launching a “WeChat Mini Program” for the upcoming National Day Golden Week holiday in October and subsequent events such as the 73rd Macau Grand Prix. According to Uber, the initiative aims to “create a seamless, end-to-end ride experience for mainland travelers, providing the most flexible mobility options to support Macau through its biggest tourism and event peak in recent years.”
Visitors from mainland China will be able to access the Uber Mini Program inside the WeChat app using their WeChat credentials without downloading or switching apps, and enjoy full support for WeChat Pay, linked bank cards or digital cash balances, the company explained.
Uber, which previously exited Macau in 2017 after facing significant operational obstacles under its traditional rideshare model, announced its return in February, albeit as a taxi service, with drivers required to possess a Macau taxi driver’s license. The company introduced a bonus program at the time to incentivize taxi drivers to join its ranks.
Uber claimed this week that it now has “close to a four-digit number of drivers on average maintaining high monthly activity and fulfilling trips through the Uber app,” but was also at pains to note that “fares comply fully with local regulations, calculated strictly according to the amount displayed on the taxi meter.”
Nevertheless, the company said market response has been enthusiastic, with data indicating that the total number of completed trips in July hit a record high, increasing by over five times compared to the initial launch period.
The July record was supported by Macau’s “event economy” and specifically a series of concerts by popular Hong Kong singer Keung To during this year’s Dragon Boat Festival long weekend. Those concerts triggered a massive travel wave from Hong Kong, Macau Uber said, with Hong Kong riders accounting for more than one-third of all Macau Uber Meter Taxi users and the peak single-day share reaching 37%.
Estyn Chung, General Manager of Uber Hong Kong, said, “Over the past six months, Uber’s robust growth in Macau has proven the immense value of seamless mobility in driving cross-border tourism and the local economy. With peak travel seasons like the National Day Golden Week and the Grand Prix fast approaching, our introduction of the ‘WeChat Mini Program’ is designed to offer a more seamless and convenient experience for the vast number of Mainland travelers.
“We will continue to deeply anchor our presence to serve Hong Kong, Macau and the broader Greater Bay Area, utilizing technology to empower local mobility, walk hand-in-hand with the local taxi industry and tourism sector, and collectively seize the infinite opportunities brought forth by the event economy.”
