A Macau Institute for Tourism Studies survey aimed at providing planners and decision makers in the tourism industry with “innovative and meaningful research” has instead highlighted what they already knew: that most foreigners visiting the city lie about why they come.
In the Institute’s Macao Visitor Profile Survey 2nd Quarter 2015 Report, only a quarter of 1,004 respondents questioned said they had gambled during their visit. This contrasts with more scientific studies which show the true figure to be as high as 87%.
According to the Report, 38% of those who gamble lost less than MOP$1,000 during their visit. This also seems somewhat unlikely, given that minimum bets in the swankier and more popular casinos are typically MOP$500.
Additionally, 60% of respondents interviewed were female. In line the received wisdom that people only come to Macau for two things (with one of course being gambling), most experts would say you only have to go to the border crossing with China to see this gender breakdown does not tally with reality.
