Published on
August 25, 2025
Macao has experienced a significant increase in visitor arrivals in July 2025, with 3,458,366 visitors recorded, marking a 14.5% year-on-year increase. This surge makes July the second busiest month for tourism in 2025, following January. The increase in visitors highlights the recovery of Macao’s tourism industry, showcasing the region’s appeal as a global travel destination.
This growth signifies that Macao remains an attractive destination for both regional and international markets. As tourism steadily rises, the region’s popularity continues to grow, fueled by effective policy changes, strengthened transportation options, and increasing interest from neighboring regions.
Same-Day vs. Overnight Visitors: A Growing Trend
Among the 3.4 million visitors in July, 1,980,732 were same-day visitors, marking a significant increase of 24.1% compared to July 2024. This indicates a notable rise in short-term visits, further underlining Macao’s accessibility for nearby travelers. On the other hand, overnight visitors, totaling 1,477,634, grew at a slower pace of 3.7% year-on-year.
While the total number of visitors increased, the average length of stay remained stable at 1.2 days, consistent with previous years. Same-day visitors spent an average of 0.2 days, showing a slight decrease of 0.1 days compared to last year. Conversely, overnight visitors maintained an average stay of 2.4 days, unchanged from the previous year.
Mainland China: The Primary Driver of Growth
The growth in visitors to Macao was largely driven by mainland China, with 2,563,212 visitors arriving in July 2025, a 17.4% rise compared to the previous year. Mainland China continues to be the primary source of visitors, benefiting from increased economic activity and growing disposable incomes. The Individual Visit Scheme, which allows more flexibility in travel, contributed significantly to this increase, with 1,362,168 mainland Chinese visitors, reflecting a 23.6% rise.
The Greater Bay Area, encompassing cities like Zhuhai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen, also showed strong growth. Visitors from Zhuhai, a key city in the Greater Bay Area, increased by 56.8%, marking the largest growth within this group. Overall, visitors from the Greater Bay Area increased by 23%, indicating Macao’s continued popularity among nearby regional tourists.
Regional Growth from Hong Kong and Taiwan
Macao also saw increases in visitors from Hong Kong and Taiwan. Visitors from Hong Kong totaled 625,343 in July, reflecting a 6.2% increase from the previous year. Meanwhile, Taiwan saw a more significant increase, with 78,828 visitors, representing a 21.4% year-on-year rise. Both Hong Kong and Taiwan are key markets for Macao due to their geographic proximity and shared cultural ties, with many visitors traveling for both leisure and business purposes.
International Visitors: Southeast Asia and Beyond
Macao’s international tourism market also showed positive growth, with 177,774 international visitors in July 2025, a 2.8% year-on-year increase. Among Southeast Asian countries, Thailand led the charge with 12,352 visitors, a notable 48.9% increase compared to last year. This growth suggests that Macao is becoming increasingly popular as a leisure destination for Southeast Asian travelers.
Meanwhile, visitors from the Philippines and Malaysia decreased by 11.8% and 9.6%, respectively. Despite these declines, Indonesia showed a positive trend, with 14,884 visitors, representing a 9.7% increase. Visitors from India and South Korea saw declines as well, with Indian arrivals dropping by 12.2% to 6,167, while South Korea saw a 1.6% decrease, totaling 32,288 visitors. Visitors from Japan also decreased slightly by 0.4%, with 8,743 visitors in July.
On a more positive note, visitors from the United States saw a 6.2% rise, reaching 15,796. This suggests that interest in Macao as a travel destination is continuing to grow in North America.
Visitor Arrivals by Mode of Transportation
In terms of transportation, the majority of visitors arrived by land, with 2,881,243 land arrivals, accounting for 83.3% of the total. This group saw a notable 19.5% year-on-year increase, reflecting Macao’s strategic location within the Greater Bay Area and its accessibility for travelers from neighboring cities.
Meanwhile, arrivals by sea saw a slight decline of 2.6%, totaling 323,296 visitors. Air travel also saw a decrease of 8.6%, with 253,827 air arrivals. Despite the drop in sea and air travel, the overall growth in visitor numbers indicates Macao’s continued appeal as a prominent tourism destination in Asia.
Year-to-Date Performance: Strong Growth for 2025
Looking at the year-to-date figures, Macao recorded a total of 22,676,906 visitor arrivals in the first seven months of 2025, representing a 14.9% increase compared to the previous year. Both same-day and overnight visitors contributed to this growth. Same-day visitors saw a remarkable rise of 25.5%, totaling 13,163,645, while overnight visitors grew by 2.8%, reaching 9,513,261. These figures highlight the continued strength of Macao’s tourism sector as it recovers and grows through 2025.
Visa Policy Updates in 2025
Macao has made several important updates to its visa policies to facilitate easier access for international visitors. In June 2025, nationals from five Gulf countries were granted visa-free entry to Macao, as part of the broader strategy to open up the region to Middle Eastern travelers.
Additionally, starting in January 2025, permanent residents of Zhuhai were given the option to apply for a “one trip per week” permit to Macao, making frequent visits easier. Furthermore, residents and permit holders in the Guangdong-Macao In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin became eligible for multi-entry permits, which allow unrestricted visits for up to seven days per stay within a one-year period.
Sustainability Initiatives to Attract Tourists
Macao has also been focusing on sustainability initiatives to make its tourism industry more eco-friendly. The region received the PATA Gold Award for Sustainability & Social Responsibility in 2025 for its efforts in preserving cultural heritage while promoting sustainable tourism.
In addition to sustainability awards, Macao celebrated Sustainable Gastronomy Day on June 18, 2025, aligning with its designation as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy. The city also hosted the 2025 International Cities of Gastronomy Festival, which focused on sustainable culinary practices. These initiatives emphasize Macao’s commitment to responsible tourism and cultural preservation.
Conclusion: Continued Growth for Macao’s Tourism
The continued growth in visitor arrivals for Macao in 2025 reflects its strong appeal as a global tourist destination. Mainland China remains the dominant source of visitors, but there has been steady growth from Southeast Asia, the United States, and other regions. Macao’s robust tourism infrastructure, including visa policy changes, strategic location, and sustainability efforts, ensures that the region will maintain its positive momentum as it heads into the second half of 2025 and beyond.
[Source:The Macao News]
