China’s Macao welcomed a record 39.41 million tourist arrivals in 2025, according to data released on Saturday by the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) government’s Public Security Police Force.

Visitors from the Chinese mainland accounted for 72.4 percent of total arrivals.

Industry experts attributed the surge in visitor numbers to the continued expansion of mainland cities eligible for the Individual Visit Scheme to Hong Kong and Macao, as well as favorable policies, such as the “multiple-entry” and “one-trip-per-week” permits for travel to Macao.

Easier cross-border travel has further driven an increase in mainland tourists visiting the city.

The Macao SAR government has continued to integrate tourism with sports, culinary experiences, and exhibitions and conventions to attract more visitors.

Major events, such as the 15th National Games, jointly hosted by Guangdong Province, Hong Kong, and Macao in November, and the 72nd Macao Grand Prix, an annual international motorsport competition, have been key drivers for tourism growth. These events have enabled tourism stakeholders to diversify their offerings and provide richer, more varied experiences for travelers.