written and last updated by
Sam Smith at
12 Apr 2023
Journalist, Editorial Department
The government of Macau, the only legal casino zone in the country, has recently been striving to diversify its economy and reduce its dependence on gambling. However, as evidenced by the three-day Easter weekend, it was the casino hotels that attracted the highest number of visitors.
According to Rutger Vershuren, vice president of the Macau Hotel Association, "the hotels with gaming facilities were nearly full." In contrast, non-gaming hotels were only 60% occupied. Vershuren noted that operators were "aggressively filling rooms," offering complimentary stays not just to high rollers but also to tourists with limited gaming experience.
In the coming years, representatives from Macau's gaming sector are expected to invest billions of patacas into non-gaming enterprises as directed by the government. To continue attracting visitors, casino resorts plan to leverage continuous entertainment and large-scale sports and cultural events.
The memorandum on economic diversification has garnered support from prominent gaming figures. Wilfred Wong, president and CEO of Sands China, stated at a recent business meeting, "We cannot rely solely on gaming." Meanwhile, Lawrence Ho, CEO of Melco Resorts & Entertainment, revealed last week that 90% of the recently launched second phase of the Studio City project in Cotai is dedicated to non-gaming entertainment.
Nevertheless, skeptics remain unconvinced about Macau's attempts to reinvent itself. Leading consultant Alidad Tash told Macao News in February that concessionaires were willing to invest in non-gaming infrastructure "because it looks more positive." However, he also pointed out, "We already have world-class restaurants. How many more can you add? How many more concerts will attract people from northern China to Macau? It's a challenge, and it has always been a challenge."
Notably, Macau's casinos welcomed nearly 5 million visitors in the first quarter of 2023.
