Even with the headwinds of coronavirus travel restrictions, Macau ranked fourth among global cities in 2022 in terms of money spent by tourists.
In 2022, visitors to the special administrative region (SAR), the lone Chinese territory where gaming is permitted, spent $15.58 billion, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC). That figure encompasses more than the closely watched gross gaming revenue (GGR) numbers, and likely would have been higher had Macau been more accessible last year.
Under pressure from the global community, and in an effort to support its sagging economy, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) ended punitive COVID-19 protocols early this year, allowing Macau casinos to welcome larger numbers of visitors.
The move is paying off, as analysts are forecasting some Macau casinos are positioned to generate revenue and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) this year on par with or in excess of 2019 levels.
In 2022, visitors to the special administrative region (SAR), the lone Chinese territory where gaming is permitted, spent $15.58 billion, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC). That figure encompasses more than the closely watched gross gaming revenue (GGR) numbers, and likely would have been higher had Macau been more accessible last year.
Under pressure from the global community, and in an effort to support its sagging economy, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) ended punitive COVID-19 protocols early this year, allowing Macau casinos to welcome larger numbers of visitors.
The move is paying off, as analysts are forecasting some Macau casinos are positioned to generate revenue and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) this year on par with or in excess of 2019 levels.