Lawrence Ho, Chairman and CEO of Melco Resorts & Entertainment, stated that Macau is no longer just a “gambling hub,” emphasizing that the city’s gaming operators are contributing to non-gaming diversification.
According to a Chinese-language media outlet, Ho mentioned that the city has evolved into a destination for concerts, performances, and exhibitions, with his group’s venues hosting concerts almost every week, featuring artists from Hong Kong and South Korea. He further highlighted that their properties include water parks.
Ho made this statement in Beijing on Wednesday while attending the National People’s Congress and the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) sessions, where he represents a member of the National Committee.
In line with the Macao SAR’s “1+4” economic diversification strategy, the “1” refers to the goal of building a world-class tourism and leisure center, while the “4” focuses on promoting the development of industries such as healthcare, modern finance, high-tech, exhibition and trade, and culture and sports.
Lawrence Ho explained that Macau’s gaming operators are working hard to diversify beyond gambling. His group aligns with the SAR government’s efforts to attract more international tourists. For instance, he pointed to the return of the famous “The House of Dancing Water” show in May as a key example.
He also mentioned that, with the support of the central government, more mainland Chinese tourists are visiting Macau through the Individual Visit Scheme (IVS). He expressed his hope that Macau will play a key role in the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area.
Meanwhile, during the same occasion, Francis Lui, Chairman of Galaxy Entertainment Group and a member of the CPPCC, suggested exploring ways to promote more convenient border-crossing models and take advantage of policies like the Guangdong vehicles heading to Hong Kong and Macau initiative. He believes these measures could inject more vitality into tourism development not only in Hong Kong and Macau but also across the entire Greater Bay Area.
As reported by a Hong Kong media outlet, Lui emphasized the importance of closer cooperation between Macau and Hong Kong to attract more foreign investment. He noted that Macau’s leisure industry has been growing steadily in recent years and expressed strong confidence in its future. He proposed that both Special Administrative Regions (SARs) should collaborate further to expand business opportunities.
Lui highlighted that both Hong Kong and Macau share the common goal of attracting more international investors, visitors, and businesses. He stressed the need for better coordination in infrastructure, services, and resources to create a more attractive environment for foreign investment. Lui also expressed his hope that the central government would introduce supportive measures during the Two Sessions to aid Hong Kong’s economic revitalization.
