As Chinese New Year (CNY) is approaching, the Post spoke with locals yesterday to gauge their expectations for the festive period. While some businesspeople anticipate a huge influx of visitors and increased sales, others remained cautious, citing changing spending habits and lingering economic uncertainty.
The Chinese New Year begins on February 17.
Jay, 37, who works at a café near the Ruins of St Paul’s landmark, said he was hopeful about the upcoming holiday period. “We’re expecting many more tourists to come here because Chinese New Year is very important. It only happens once a year,” he said. With the festive season traditionally bringing heavy foot traffic, Jay said he was upbeat about higher sales and better business overall. However, he admitted, this will be the café’s first Chinese New Year at its current location. “Last year, we were still in Taipa. We only opened here in May, so this is the first time we will experience Chinese New Year in this area,” he said, believing that footfall will be significantly higher both during and after the holiday.
Meanwhile, Marjorie, 32, who works in a café near Rua do Campo, shared a more cautious outlook. She noted that while Chinese New Year is usually busy, spending patterns can vary. “Sometimes people spend a lot before the holiday, then prefer to stay home and save money after coming back from visiting their families,” she said. Still, Marjorie said she expects this year to be better than last. “Compared to last year, I think it will be busier. Last year, people were still recovering from COVID and didn’t go out as much,” she noted, adding that her café plans to reopen on the third day of Chinese New Year, a change from previous years when it remained closed, reflecting cautious optimism from the management.
The café will be closed on the first and second day of the Year of the Horse.
Moreover, 20-year-old Stephanie, a local university student, who spoke to the Post outside Marjorie’s café, expressed concern over the spending habits of some visitors. She said that many young tourists from the Chinese mainland tend to minimise expenses by collecting free samples and avoiding pay-to-enter attractions or in-restaurant dining. “So many people come here, but they don’t really spend much money,” Stephanie said, adding she hopes the government can find ways to encourage “more meaningful” consumption.
She also commented on the upcoming Tap Siac Chinese New Year market, saying she looks forward to it but remains sceptical. “Last time I went, a lot of the things sold there were just items you can find on Taobao. There wasn’t much originality.”
As Macau prepares for the Chinese New Year holiday, the vox pop showed that expectations remain mixed. While businesses seem to be hopeful about increased visitor numbers and improved sales, concerns remain over tourists’ low spending and the overall economic impact.
Tourists try out free samples outside a cake shop on Rua de S. Paulo close to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Ruins of St. Paul’s and Na Tcha Temple yesterday. - Photo: Khalel Vallo
