Macau’s tourism office sets a goal to draw 3 million international visitors this year by investing MOP 100 million ($12.4 million) to subsidize 100,000 international air tickets.   However, the industry had mixed reactions.

Macau's government announced on Friday the draft bill that will create a new regime for the operation of the civil aviation market, in a decisive step to liberalize Macau’s aviation market. A tourism expert told AGB that the end of Air Macau’s monopoly is “long-awaited” for the sector, as the policy is expected to boost Macau’s international visitation and become a new start for Macau to lure passengers from the Greater Bay Area (GBA).

The labor shortage in Macau has been a frequently discussed topic, as Macau's tourism bureau said in February that up to 3,000 hotel rooms were out of use and the problem likely remains unresolved. An industry insider notes that skilled workers who left Macau during the pandemic "probably will not come back".

Macau did not reach its expected industry target of visitors over the six-day Ching Meng Festival and Easter Holiday, says an expert.

Macau's flight connectivity to the rest of the world is increasing, following the easing of COVID curbs, but an industry insider says that current ticket prices are discouraging Macau's travel agencies and depressing visitor demand.