Macau nearly reached its pre-COVID-19 pandemic daily tourist average on Easter Eve when the city logged over 90,000 visitor arrivals. The Macau Post Daily interviewed several local residents yesterday about their views on how the recent increase in visitor numbers will affect them and the city.
A brighter economic outlook
Chan, aged 62, said he thought that the economy will improve. Moreover, as he lives some distance from areas frequented by tourists, overcrowding will not be an issue for him, he said.
The optimism that the economy will improve was echoed by Dario, a local Portuguese, who said: “I think it’s very good, Macau is returning to [what] it was before the COVID-19 [pandemic]. It will boost the economy, which is very important for everyone.”
The 42-year-old noted that he thought that businesses will be able to earn more money while hoping that people will have a better life, be generally happier and that the economy will become more stable.
“I think it’s a much-needed thing for Macau’s economy” added 24-year-old Suarez, who said that it will also help with job security, especially benefitting recent or upcoming graduates in the future and boost the local workforce.
Regarding possible issues such as overcrowding, the Filipina pointed out that “Macau is used to that kind of thing”, adding the city won’t be unprepared for the arrival of tourists given the efforts exerted to attract them. However, she said she hoped that the city could be promoted beyond just the mainland market.
It may benefit some more than others
A business owner surnamed Chu acknowledged the “positive effect” that the surge in tourism can bring to the city. However, the 35-year-old said he thought that this may benefit some more than others.
“It’s good for casinos or shops near the Senado Square or other tourist areas” he said, while the impact on other small-and-medium enterprises (SMEs) further away or in areas not frequented by tourists may not be substantial or different to the last three years. Meanwhile, he said that given Macau’s past, he thought that adjusting to having more people coming into the city won’t be a problem.
Time is needed to readjust
On the contrary, Nero, a member of a performing group, aged 37, said that people may need time to get used to having more tourists in the city again. He noted that people may have forgotten what it was like before the pandemic when it was normal to see a lot of people everywhere, while certain tourist behaviours such as constantly taking photos can be strange. “Now, I think we need some time to remember that feeling”.
Nero also remarked that although he may need time to accept the rising number of tourists again, Macau’s economy still depends on tourism, “so we cannot deny or reject this”. He said he thought that more tourists will continue to come to Macau, but hopes that they can discover more of Macau’s cultural aspects.
Exploring other offerings
Although happy to see the increase in visitors, Lao, also a member of a performing group, said that she would love to see more tourists visiting parks, gardens and heritage sites or for purposes like cultural tourism.
“I would love to see more people come, but I would also love to see the government or local people help introduce more cultural sites or cultural tourist attractions” rather than only focusing on the popular spots, the 37-year-old underlined.
She also remarked that locals have had the time to rediscover and explore their city over the last three years, noting this kind of experience could be shared with travellers to Macau and could also be an opportunity rather than just going back to what the city was in the past. “It’s a chance to reconsider and rethink our city”, she said.
She added that she won’t be glad to see the city return to overtourism, with everyone feeling the negative effects.
She emphasised that people should not be eager to simply go back to the past and instead take time to make preparations such as through language and cultural performances to help tourists “understand Macau’s unique value”.
Tourists visit the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Ruins of St. Paul’s yesterday afternoon. – Photo: Rui Pastorin
