Sunday, February 16, 2025
HomeNewsMacauMacau to investigate allegations of tour groups charging entry fees for casinos

Macau to investigate allegations of tour groups charging entry fees for casinos

Mainland tour group visitors have recently complained on social media that they were asked for entry fees by tour guides when entering casinos in Macau.

MGTO Macau tourism
Helena de Senna Fernandes, Head of the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO)

In response, Helena de Senna Fernandes, Head of the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), announced on Sunday that an investigation will be launched to address these illegal practices.

According to a complaint found by AGB on China’s social media platform Xiaohongshu, a netizen reported being charged RMB200 ($28) for entry to The Venetian Macau.

Speaking to local media outlets, Fernandes acknowledged the concerning posts and stated that authorities would investigate whether the actions stemmed from local travel agencies or cross-border tour guides. She emphasized that inspections will be carried out.

Fernandes explained that if local travel agencies are found responsible, they will face fines, and depending on the severity of the situation, their licenses could be affected. If non-local tour guides are involved, different penalties will apply.

MGTO has pledged to not only conduct its own inspections but also to collaborate with relevant departments for joint inspections. She reiterated that monitoring efforts have never ceased, and the authorities will work with the Greater Bay Area to combat these issues. In a recent meeting in Macau, information was exchanged regarding suspected problems or violations, which will be reported to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

Fernandes also stated that the authorities will continue to enhance public education efforts, highlighting that low-priced tour groups are often the source of many issues. She reiterated her call for tourists to avoid such options.

When asked whether the MGTO received any complaints about tour group violations this year, Fernandes noted that the number of violations discovered through inspections exceeds the number of complaints received. She described these violations as a persistent issue, indicating that while some patterns may fade, new ones often emerge. She emphasized that the authorities will continue to monitor, combat, and raise awareness about these practices.

Macau tourism, China monetary stimulus

Boosting international visitors on the way

As reported previously, by the end of the second quarter, Macau’s tourism authorities had introduced over 70,000 discounted flight tickets to attract international tourists and boost overseas arrivals.

This initiative follows the Macau government’s allocation of MOP235 million ($29.36 million) to support tourism recovery and increase international visitation.

Fernandes revealed on Sunday that they have already spent half of the MOP 235 million budget so far, noting that the results are encouraging.

When asked if there would be another edition of this type of allocation, the head of MGTO replied that, due to next year’s budget still not entering the approval process, they are currently unable to disclose all details.

The MGTO has set a target of 2 million foreign arrivals by year-end. Preliminary data indicate that Macau received 1.68 million international tourists from January to September, marking a 95.2 percent year-on-year increase. However, this figure still represents only 70.8 percent of the international visitor numbers recorded during the same period in 2019.

Viviana Chan
Viviana Chanhttps://agbrief.com/
Viviana Chan is an editor, interpreter, and journalist. With over a decade of experience, she writes in English, Chinese, and Portuguese. Viviana started her career in Macau-based newspapers, where she became passionate about the region's social, financial, and cultural development. Her writing focuses on the economy, emerging industries, gaming development, political affairs, and cross cultural-exchange in the business and cultural domains. She is avid for news and eager to discover and cover stories that generate public relevance.

MORE ARTICLES

FOLLOW AGB

daily newsletter