MACAO recorded 139,280 visitor arrivals in the first week of October, only 14 percent compared with the same period of 2019, the special administrative region’s tourism authorities report.

People from the Chinese mainland accounted for 129,967 of the visits, an 83 percent decrease year-on-year.

The number is lower than expected but much higher than in the previous months since the COVID-19 pandemic.

The long holiday brought new hope to Macao’s long-term tourism and economic recovery. Macao’s tourism industry had planned to attract tourists from the Chinese mainland through such activities as a fireworks show and the Macao Light Festival.

Macao’s tourism players expected most travelers from the Chinese mainland to stay home for family reunions during the Mid-Autumn Festival, which fell on Oct. 1, delaying the peak in tourist arrivals.

Also, application procedures for travel permits to Macao, which the Chinese mainland’s authorities resumed Sept. 23, took longer than before, which contributed to the drop in the number of visitors during the holiday.

A recent industry survey shows that local retailers’ revenues increased by 20 to 30 percent during the holiday.

Travel Industry Council of Macao chairman Wong Fai voices optimism about tourism’s mid-term recovery, although a full recovery will take longer. (Xinhua)