Macau gov’t gears up for tide of Chinese New Year travelers

Macau Government Tourism Office (GTO) is expecting a tide of mainland Chinese tourists to visit Asia’s premier gambling hub during the Chinese New Year revelry.

GGRAsia reported that MGTO chief Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes is expecting a 1 to 3 percent growth in the number of tourists visiting Macau during the Chinese New Year compared to the 935,266 visitor arrivals it posted in the same period last year.

The bulk of the tourists will come from mainland China, Hong Kong, and “maybe Taiwan,” according to Fernandes.

Citing a recent survey conducted by international brokerage Deutsche Bank, Macau Daily Times reported that 14 of 20 Macau hotels reported that they are already fully booked for the Chinese holiday that will run from February 15 to February 21.