Macau eyes Guangzhou and Shenzhen airports to expand international tourism
Macau is considering expanding international visitor access through Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport and Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport. The proposal forms part of Macau’s strategy to attract more international visitors by leveraging the Greater Bay Area’s transport network and promoting multi-destination travel.
Multi-destination tourism becomes a new focus
At present, most international visitors reach Macau either through Macau International Airport or by transferring from Hong Kong International Airport. Under the proposed arrangement, travellers arriving via Guangzhou could reach Macau in about two hours by road, or approximately 55 minutes by taking the high-speed rail to Zhuhai before crossing the border. Travellers arriving through Shenzhen have two options. They can take the Shekou–Macau ferry in around 80 minutes or travel via the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge in about two hours.
Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes said the tourism office is exploring new ways to attract international visitors interested in multi-destination itineraries. The strategy would leverage the Greater Bay Area’s aviation and cross-border transport network to improve access to Macau.
Macau responds to slower growth in overseas arrivals
The proposal reflects Macau’s wider efforts to strengthen its international tourism sector as international visitor growth begins to slow. According to the Statistics and Census Service, Macau welcomed 234,150 overseas visitors from outside Greater China in May. That represented year-on-year growth of just 0.8 per cent. This marked a noticeable slowdown compared with the first four months of the year. Senna Fernandes attributed the weaker growth partly to high fuel prices and the impact of major international sporting events diverting travel demand.
Greater Bay Area transport network supports tourism strategy
The concept of multi-destination tourism is not new.
Speaking at the 55th SKAL Asia Congress in Macau in June, Senna Fernandes said that nearly half of Macau’s visitors, representing 46 per cent of total arrivals, travelled as part of a multi-destination itinerary. Most combined Macau with Hong Kong, although travel that included other Greater Bay Area mainland cities has continued to increase.
She also noted that Guangzhou and Shenzhen each receive between one million and two million international visitors every year. By comparison, other Greater Bay Area cities record only 20,000 to 200,000 international arrivals. This suggests that both airports already serve as established international gateways and represent logical options for expanding Macau’s overseas visitor base.
The strategy of using the Greater Bay Area’s transport infrastructure to strengthen tourism is also not new. In a media interview at the end of 2024, Senna Fernandes highlighted that the region is served by four international airports in Hong Kong, Macau, Guangzhou and Shenzhen, as well as cruise homeports including Guangzhou Nansha and Shenzhen Shekou. She argued that Macau should make better use of these transport links to develop multi-destination tourism products.
She also said that the 144-hour visa-free transit policy at the Guangzhou and Shenzhen ports of entry would further support regional multi-destination travel. The latest proposal, specifically identifying Guangzhou and Shenzhen airports, indicates that planning has progressed towards practical transport connectivity.
Non-gaming development supports tourism diversification
Macau has continued to promote investment in non-gaming attractions as the city looks beyond gaming-driven growth. The city has continued to encourage investment in non-gaming attractions to attract international visitors who stay longer and spend across a wider range of sectors. The objective is to increase the average length of stay while supporting spending on integrated resorts, retail, dining and other non-gaming activities.
At the regional level, Macau also faces growing competition as destinations including Singapore and Japan continue advancing integrated resort developments. Strengthening Macau’s position within Greater Bay Area travel itineraries is therefore becoming increasingly important.
International promotion remains the next priority
Alongside improvements to transport connectivity, Macau has maintained strong tourism appeal.
According to the China Tourism Academy’s ranking of the Top 10 Most Satisfying Outbound Travel Destinations for Chinese Tourists in 2025, Macau retained first place for the second consecutive year. The city also welcomed more than 29 million visitors from mainland China during 2025, strengthening its appeal in international tourism promotion.
Earlier this year, the Macao Government Tourism Office also said it is expanding into emerging source markets through targeted marketing campaigns, including Russia. Russian visitor arrivals increased by 84.5 per cent year on year during the first quarter, reflecting Macau’s broader efforts to diversify its international visitor base.
Macau sets sights on long-term visitor growth
Expanding airport connectivity through Guangzhou and Shenzhen, therefore, represents only one element of a wider strategy. Senna Fernandes has previously said Macau is targeting 41 million visitor arrivals in 2026, including three million international visitors. Further details on implementation measures and cooperation mechanisms have yet to be announced.
For Macau, strengthening links with the international aviation hubs of Guangzhou and Shenzhen would not only broaden its overseas visitor base but also help overcome the limitations created by its relatively small number of direct international flights. By leveraging the Greater Bay Area’s integrated aviation, high-speed rail and cross-border transport networks, Macau aims to attract more international travellers. The strategy could reduce marketing costs while supporting regional tourism integration. If the proposed transport links are further developed, they could also encourage international visitors to extend their stay in Macau. Expanding airport connectivity could become an important driver of Macau tourism, helping attract more overseas visitors through the Greater Bay Area.
This article was first published on the Chinese SiGMA News page on 13 July 2026.
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