Chinese New Year golden week adjourns

Mainland China's seven-day long Chinese New Year golden week adjourned and Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) related measures and work were also successfully concluded. According to preliminary statistics, during Chinese New Year golden week visitor arrivals to Macau numbered 1,028,559 (including non-resident workers and students), a slight decrease of 2.4 per cent over the corresponding period last year, among which 760,623 were Mainland visitors, down by two per cent. Given that last year's golden week extended from the first to the seventh day of the Chinese New Year, according to the lunar calendar, and this year the golden week started at the last day of the year and ended at the sixth day of the New Year (18 to 24 of February), and as Chinese traditionally travel less on the last day of the year that might have contributed to a dip in the figures. Whereas when looking into statistics referring to the period between the first and the seventh day of the Chinese New Year (19 to 25 of February), the number of arrivals recorded (including non-resident workers and students) marked 1,088,579, up by 3.3 per cent, compare to identical period last year, among which 819,266 were visitors from Mainland China, a 5,6 per cent increase. According to data provided by the hotel industry, during the golden week the average occupancy rate of three to five star hotels reached 87.5 per cent, a year-on-year decrease of 6.9 percentage points. The current total of rooms supplied by all hotels and guest houses in Macau stands at 29,382 rooms. Guest houses average occupancy rate for the same period reached 74 per cent, down by 8.6 percentage points, two star hotels 73.9 per cent, down by 13.4 percentage points, three-star hotels 85.2 per cent, down by 8.1 percentage points, four-star hotels 84.1 percent, down by 8.7 per cent, and five-star hotels 93.3 per cent, down by 3.9 percentage points. The average room rate during golden week rate of three to five star hotels in Macau dropped by 15.4 per cent, to 2,019.3 patacas. The average room rate of guest houses was 726.1 patacas, a year-on-year decrease of 4.9 per cent, while the average room rate of two-star hotels was 1,080.3 patacas, down by 11.1 per cent, three-star hotels 1,881.7 patacas, down by 21.1 per cent, four-star hotels 1,725.7 patacas, down by 20.7 per cent and five-star hotels 2,450.5, down 5.8 per cent. Before and during Spring Festival, MGTO was actively preparing for the peak period in various ways by activating the tourism notification system, increasing inspection duties, sending reminders to the trade regarding various concerns, printing and distributing local food guide and carrying out a range of Lunar New Year celebrations, among other initiatives, as the Office strives not only to cater for citizens and visitors' needs but also to optimize local tourism environment and service quality through various measures. MGTO has been regularly releasing the room rates of Macau hotels and guest houses in different room categories on its website so that visitors can obtain the latest information. Before Spring Festival arrived, the Office also sent out Wechat and mobile text messages to Mainland residents who planned to visit Macau during the Golden Week, advising them to make room reservation in advance and to check hotel room rates on MGTO's website if needed; to ensure visitors have more travel tips in hand, the Office also encouraged visitors to download travel information before their trip to Macau or to obtain printed materials at MGTO's Tourist Information counters for free upon arrival. MGTO and Tourism Administration of Guangdong Province putted once again the "Tourism Notification System for Spring Festival Golden Week" into operation, this year between 16 and 25 February. The Office also collaborated with relevant departments and tourism reception entities to facilitate hospitality work for visitors during Spring Festival Golden Week. MGTO conducted 73 inspections in total at various border ports and tourist spots. Between 18 and 24 February, MGTO sealed one premises allegedly operated as illegal accommodation. MGTO's Tourist Information counters and tourism hotline service operated as usual during the holidays. MGTO's tourism hotline 2833 3000 maintained its 24-hour operator service to answer visitors' enquiries. During Chinese New Year, MGTO received a total of six complaints, assistance requests or suggestions from visitors regarding restaurants service and charges, food establishments hygiene, tourist guide and carrying capacity, which MGTO has followed up or transferred the cases to relevant entities for settlement. This press release is available at: http://industry.macautourism.gov.mo/en/pressroom/