Macau’s hotels and guesthouses reported an average occupancy rate of 43.6% during the recent Golden Week holiday, according to industry figures published by the Macao Government Tourism Office.
The figures include an occupancy rate of 43.2% for 5-star hotels, down from 95.2% over the same period in 2019, 45.2% for 4-star hotels and 51.9% for 3-star hotels. However, 2-star hotels and guesthouses reported occupancy of just 21.4% and 23.9% respectively.
There was also a 30% reduction in average room rates across the board, with 5-star hotels charging an average MOP$1,634, down 26.9% year-on-year, and 4-star hotels MOP$605 compared with MOP$1,195 in 2019.
The MGTO said there were 42,441 rooms available Macau-wide, up from 41,015 a year ago.
The lower occupancy and room rates come after just 139,280 visitors entered Macau during the 1 to 7 October Golden Week period, peaking at 22,116 arrivals on Saturday 3 October. The first seven days of October saw visitation to Macau down 85.7% compared to the same period in 2019.
Analysts have attributed the slow pace of recovery to a recent crackdown by Beijing on gambling activity and a complicated visa application process under the recently reinstated Individual Visit Scheme.
