The past year turned out to be special for Macau. The region experienced a historic high in tourist arrivals and cross-border traffic.
As announced in the local Public Security Police's statement, the number of visitors for 2025 reached 40.06 million. This figure surpassed pre-pandemic levels, confirming the full restoration of travel activity.
Rise of the City: Key Indicators
The previous record of 39.4 million was set in 2019. Meanwhile, in comparison to 2024, Macau’s total attendance volume grew by 14.7%.
As revealed by local authorities, the historic high number of visits was reached by 11:00 a.m. on December 27th. Following this mark, an additional influx of tourists typical of the pre-New Year period began.
Massive growth in international movements accompanied the expansion of the arrival pool. Their total figure accounted for 235 million, as reported by Macau’s police department. It is 9.8% more than in 2024 and the absolute record in the region’s history.
The distribution of travelers was as follows:
- citizens — 36.4%;
- non-residents (workers) — 26.1%;
- tourists — 33.9%.
The busiest crossing options were:
- the Border Gate — 52.7% of movements;
- the Qingmao Checkpoint — 15.4%;
- the Hengqin Port — 12.9%.
New Year’s Impressive Influx in Trips
On January 1st, 2026, the number of sightseers totaled 188,036. Additionally, 860,000+ passes were claimed at all arrival paths that day. On January 2nd, the situation was similar: 822,272 total movements and 188,561 travelers.
Generally, from December 31st to January 1st, Macau welcomed 368,538 visitors, a 63.7% increase YoY. The majority of tourists entered through the Hengqin and Border Gate options, which link the city to China’s mainland.
Worldwide Flights: Travel Dynamics
Despite the record number of sightseers, the entire traffic of passengers was rather moderate. In the past year, Macau’s International Airport handled nearly 7.52 million customers, a 1.6% decrease in comparison to 2024. The company attributed the situation to a weakening general economic environment and high uncertainty, particularly in H1 2025 and during the peak summer season.
At the same time, the number of global tourists climbed by 7%, and the total volume of overseas routes grew by 26%. Cargo traffic was up by 1.08% YoY.
By the end of the year, the object served 29 airlines to 47 landing places in:
- Japan;
- Taiwan;
- South Korea, etc.
Q4 2025 saw significant achievements: flights to Cebu, Jinan, Haiphong, and other hotspots were resumed or added. Additionally, active negotiations with Middle Eastern partners to enlarge the international network are ongoing.
Tourism and Gaming: Expansion Support
The sharp increase in traveler numbers has coincided with the strengthening of local gambling facilities. According to Macau’s regulator, DICJ, the industry’s gross revenue reached MOP 247.4 billion (approximately $30.9 billion) by the end of 2025, 9.1% growth from 2024. Operators also noted a notable jump in audience activities in the V.I.P. and high-end mass segments.
The main visitors to gaming venues were guests from China’s mainland and Hong Kong, following the normalisation of cross-border traffic after the lifting of pandemic restrictions. The demand for regional travel remains stable. Niche experts assess this rise as a new starting point for the further development of the local hub and the strengthening of its position in Asia and globally.
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