Macau reached the milestone of 10 million visitors in 2026, 12 days ahead of the previous year’s pace. The advance reinforces the growth of tourism, which includes the strong attraction of gambling and casinos, although this is not the only factor in the flow.
The volume of international visitors exceeded 10 million in March, according to data released by the Public Security Police on Saturday, 21, at 11 am. The result anticipates the projected performance and confirms the acceleration of tourist movement.
In 2025, Macau recorded 40.06 million arrivals, surpassing the 2019 record of 39.4 million by 1.6%.
How the pace of visitors will evolve in 2026
Currently, Macau maintains a daily average of 126 thousand visitors. This number represents a growth of 14% compared to the same period of the previous year. Furthermore, the performance reinforces the continuity of the trend observed in 2025.
This advance occurs, above all, due to a combination of tourism factors, including shopping, travel and activities linked to gambling. At the same time, authorities are closely monitoring the data, while observing the continued high pace.
Mainland China leads the volume of visitors, with around 75% of the total. Next, Hong Kong represents 15%, while Taiwan accounts for 2.5% and foreign visitors reach 6.6%. Even though the percentage distribution remains stable, the absolute increase indicates greater flow coming from these regions.
Furthermore, accessibility remains a determining factor. Many tourists opt for short trips, which drives continued growth in demand.
Distribution at border posts and land flow
Data from checkpoints show high concentration in the overland flow. The Border Post accounts for more than 44% of entries. In contrast, the Port of Macau on the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge records almost 20%, while Hengqin accounts for 16%.
These numbers highlight the relevance of terrestrial connections. Mainly, the bridge facilitates access for tourists coming from nearby urban centers. In this way, rapid movement contributes to the consistent increase in arrivals.
Daily averages and maintenance of growth
The 10 million mark in the first quarter represents a relevant indicator. In parallel, the average of 126 thousand daily visitors confirms the stability of the flow throughout 2026.
This performance maintains the same intensity seen in the record 40.06 million visitors in 2025. In that period, Macau had already surpassed pre-pandemic levels. Now, the faster pace suggests continued recovery.
The composition of visitors and crossing patterns reinforce the city’s tourist positioning. While dependence on Mainland China remains evident, data shows additional contribution from Hong Kong and other markets.
In this way, the combination of tourism, accessibility and activities such as gaming and casinos supports continued growth in Macau.
