With only 4.5% of the total arrivals, the Macau overseas visitor ramp-up is still lagging behind expectations, according to Jose Wong Weng Chou, a scholar from Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST).

Despite a 292 percent surge in the total amount of visitor spending in Macau last year compared to 2022, per-capita spending of visitors on shopping fell sharply by 42.3 percent from the previous year, showing the downturn in China's economy, say experts.

Galaxy Entertainment's COO, Kevin Kelley, says that the company is focusing its efforts on all segments of the market, still hoping to support junkets' success, even as it hits more mass and premium mass with its new entertainment venues. The group is also targeting the younger demographic with a focus on ETGs. But it's keeping its eggs in one basket, not currently exploring other opportunities outside Macau.

Macau visitor arrivals in January doubled year-on-year, reaching nearly 1.4 million, but a tourism scholar says that Macau is still only likely to see half of the yearly pre-pandemic visitors this year.

Sands China Ltd. donated MOP600,000 to Macau Tung Sin Tong Charitable Society at a cheque presentation ceremony Nov. 21 at The Venetian Macao, in support of the nongovernmental organisation’s annual December-February fundraising campaign.