China’s President Xi Jinping will visit Macau from December 18th to 20th to mark the 25th anniversary of the region’s return to China and to conduct an official inspection of the Macau Special Administrative Region (SAR).
The trip was confirmed on Saturday by Xinhua News Agency, China’s state-run media outlet.
During his visit, President Xi will attend various events celebrating the anniversary and the inauguration of Macau’s sixth government. Additionally, he will oversee an official inspection of the region.
This marks his third visit to Macau for such milestones, having previously attended the 15th and 20th anniversaries of Macau’s return in 2014 and 2019, where he delivered significant speeches.
Meanwhile, in the gaming sector, analysts remain cautious about the impact of the visit on Macau’s gaming revenue. Citigroup has projected a flat year-on-year performance for Macau’s gross gaming revenue (GGR) in December 2024, forecasting MOP18.5 billion (US$2.3 billion).
This forecast represents approximately 81 percent of December 2019 levels.
Analysts expect a temporary dip in gaming activity during the visit, as public attention will shift to state-led celebrations. While the holiday season typically boosts tourist arrivals, this high-profile political event is expected to disrupt the usual gaming momentum in Macau.
