Visitor arrivals hit one million during 1st October Golden Week Slight raise compared with 2014

According to the preliminary statistics from Public Security Police Force, the overall visitor arrivals (including non-local employees and students) in Macau during 1 – 7 October (1st October Golden Week) hit 1,069,592 in total with a year-on-year raise of 2.72%. A total of 906,652 visitors came from the Mainland and the figure went up by 7.11% compared with that of 2014. According to figures provided by local trade, the average occupancy rate of 3 to 5 Star hotels was 86.86% during the Golden Week, a year-on-year decline of 0.3%. Up to date, the total number of rooms provided by all hotels and guest houses in Macau has climbed up to 30,526. The average occupancy rates of 3-Star and 4-Star hotels were 87.36% and 84.43%, which increased by 1.91% and 0.49% respectively; whereas the average occupancy rate of 5-Star hotels was 88.79%, showing a 3.31% decline. The average room rate of 3 to 5 Star hotels in Macau was 1,477 patacas during the Golden Week, a year-on-year decrease of 21.96%. On the other hand, the average room rate of local guest houses was 542 patacas, which dropped by 18.74%. The average room rates of 2-Star and 3-Star hotels were 769 patacas and 1,321 patacas respectively (a drop of 17.87% and 20.15%). The average room rates of 4-Star and 5-Star hotels were 1,151 patacas and 1,958 patacas respectively, declined by 28.09% and 19.14% respectively. Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) received four tourism-related complaints during the 1st October Golden Week. The complaints were mainly about taxi service and consumption. The Office has referred the cases to relevant departments for settlement. On the other hand, a suggestion about bus stop sign was received by MGTO. MGTO’s Inspection Division received only one case of complaint through the 24-hour Tourism Hotline service during the Golden Week. The complainant was unsatisfied with the hotel price after room reservation was made on a website overseas. The Inspection Division has suggested the complainant to contact the website concerned. During the Golden Week, MGTO carried out 104 inspections at various ports and tourist spots in total. In terms of measures against illegal accommodation, MGTO carried out 9 united actions, inspected 20 premises and sealed 5 premises allegedly operated as illegal accommodation in total. During the past 1st October Golden Week, MGTO adopted a series of measures not only to cater for the needs of local citizens and visitors but also to optimize service quality in the tourism industry. The measures include sending out reminders and mobile text messages to industry partners and visitors respectively about things to be aware of, inter-departmental information sharing, more scrupulous inspections, food guide publication, staging activities in different districts as well as setting up stations to answer enquiries, etc.