Macau economy grows 3.7% in first half of 2026

Macau's economy showed resilience in the first half of 2026, with a revised real GDP growth of 3.7% year-on-year, reaching MOP 209.9 billion. This growth was supported by a 9.0% increase in visitor arrivals, totaling over 20 million people in the first seven months of the year.

Service exports rose by 7.3%, driven in part by a 5.5% increase in gaming services exports. However, other tourism-related services grew more rapidly at 10.8%. While visitor numbers are rising, there is a notable shift in travel patterns; the average length of stay has decreased to approximately 1.1 days. This is attributed to a rise in “flash” travelers—often younger visitors attending concerts—who arrive in the afternoon and depart overnight.

Data from July indicates that while arrivals from Mainland China increased, international visitor numbers saw a decline, particularly from the Philippines and South Korea. Conversely, arrivals from India saw a significant increase of 66.4%.