Macau Tourism Rebounds with Record February Visitor Numbers

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Macau’s visitor numbers surged in February 2026, with 4,172,940 arrivals, a 32.6% year-on-year rise driven by the Chinese New Year period, government statistics show. 

Macau tourism on the rise

Key Takeaways:

  • Tourism numbers surged by 32.6% year-on-year in February 2026
  • Same-day visits and Lunar New Year holiday boosted casino revenues
  • Shorter stays highlight shift towards day-trips from regional markets

Same-day visits led the gain, increasing 41.8% to 2.68 million, while overnight arrivals rose 18.8% to about 1.50 million. 

Despite the higher footfall, the average length of stay slipped to 0.9 day, reflecting a shift toward shorter, day-trip visits from nearby markets.

The nine-day Lunar New Year window proved pivotal: Macau recorded more than 1.55 million tourists during the holiday, a daily average that exceeded the 2019 benchmark. 

That concentrated demand lifted casino activity, with gross gaming revenue for February reported at roughly MOP20.62 billion (about US$2.56 billion) per Asia Gaming Brief. 

Tourism Feeding into Revenue

Tourism authorities had forecast strong holiday flows, and mainland China accounted for the bulk of the influx, including a substantial rise in Individual Visit Scheme travelers. This rebound in gaming activity is also translating into stronger public finances, with Macau’s gaming tax revenues rising significantly alongside the ongoing casino recovery

Annual comparisons show Macau exceeded 40 million visitors in 2025, supported by rapidly growing same-day traffic and a gradual shortening of average stays.

International arrivals showed mixed results in February, with gains in several markets offset by declines in others.