Visitor numbers have, however, improved on a daily basis, starting out at just 8,162 on day one. A total of 9,058 arrived on day two, followed by 13,193 and 17,357 on days three and four respectively. All four days represented major declines from the same period in 2020.
The director of Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, said last week that the region should expect around 16,000 to 20,000 visitors per day, but figures from Macau Tourism Data have largely been well below that total.
The Chinese New Year holiday in Macau has been greatly impacted by travel restrictions to and from the region due to COVID-19, particularly after a recent outbreak in mainland China. The outbreak saw Beijing issue an advisory suggesting citizens avoid all unnecessary travel.
Of the 47,770 visitors who arrived over the first four days, 43,330 were from mainland China, a 61% year-on-year decline. The majority arrived via the Border Gate and Hengqin Port, representing figures of 25,276 and 11,520 respectively.
