Macau welcomed 4,478,073 visitors in August 2026, representing a 6.1% year-on-year increase, driven by mainland China and growth in same-day trips, according to data published on September 18 by the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC). Same-day visitors reached 2,853,011, up 11.7%, while overnight visitors fell 2.4% to 1,625,062. The average length of stay declined by 0.1 days to 1.0 day.
- Macau tops 30 million visitors and collects US$8.19 billion in gaming tax
Mainland China contributed 3,561,667 visitors, up 9.3%, including 2,019,744 travelers under the Individual Visit Scheme, up 12.7%. Taiwan increased 13.7% to 101,282, while Hong Kong declined 5.6% to 643,445. The international market fell 9.8% to 171,679 visitors. The Philippines contributed 31,282, down 18.5%; South Korea, 30,738, down 12.6%; the United States, 11,713, down 0.4%; Japan, 11,464, down 31.1%; Indonesia, 11,106, down 16.9%; and Malaysia, 8,161, up 2.1%.
From January through August, Macau accumulated 28,964,737 visitors, up 7.7%. Same-day visitors totaled 17,850,599, up 13.6%, compared with 11,114,138 overnight visitors, down 0.6%. DSEC is headed by Pong Kai Fu, while the Macao Government Tourism Office remains under Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes. The government’s economic portfolio is led by Ng Wai Han, Secretary for Economy and Finance since June 2026, under Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai.
The increase in tourism did not automatically translate into gaming growth. Casinos generated MOP21.891 billion, around US$2.71 billion, in GGR during August, down 1.2% year-on-year, although 8.1% higher than July.
The six concessionaires remain SJM Resorts, Galaxy Casino, Wynn Resorts Macau, MGM Grand Paradise, Venetian Macau/Sands China and Melco Resorts Macau. The regulator is the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ), currently headed on an acting basis by Lio Chi Chong.
