Typhoon Tapah derails Macau casino services, travel suspended
Tourism and travel to Macau were majorly disrupted over the weekend due to Typhoon Tapah’s passage across the city. This event compelled the temporary suspension of air, sea, and land transportation, along with non-gaming services at major casino resorts.
Authorities issued a Typhoon Signal No. 8 at 9 PM on Sunday, 7 September 2025, which was later downgraded to Signal No. 3 by 3 PM local time on Monday, 8 September 2025. Despite the decline in warnings, air services continued to experience delays and cancellations, while ferry and cross-border coach operations were notably impacted.
Over 90 flights cancelled
Macau International Airport recorded 91 cancelled flights over Sunday and Monday, including 41 to or from mainland China. Other cancellations involved Taiwan, Southeast Asia, and Northeast Asia. Ferry services between Macau and Shenzhen were suspended for most of Sunday and all of Monday.
Ferries to Hong Kong resumed only after the Signal No.3 alert was issued. Cross-border tourist coach services via the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge were similarly halted until the alert was lowered.
Major non-gaming ops paused
All major casino resorts in Cotai and the Macau peninsula paused selected non-gaming operations, including restaurants, shops, outdoor facilities, and shuttle bus services. The Mocha Clubs Macau outlet in the flood-prone Inner Harbour district was closed as a precautionary measure, confirmed by the city’s Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ). Suspensions were lifted once the Signal No.3 came into effect.
This marks the second cyclone to disrupt Macau in recent months, following Typhoon Wipha. During Wipha, casinos remained open while authorities prioritised the safety of guests and staff by keeping them indoors. The DICJ had issued a directive instructing gaming premises to stay operational, aiming to prevent visitors from venturing outside during dangerous conditions. Operators were also advised to ensure facilities were safe and to accommodate staff who could not commute due to the storm.
“The city continues to work closely with gaming operators to guarantee both safety and workers’ rights,” the DICJ said, highlighting provisions for rest and compensation during adverse conditions.
Situation similar to Saola Typhoon
However, the current situation looks similar to Typhoon Saola in 2023, when a T8 alert prompted the full closure of all casino operations. Despite the precautionary measures during Tapah and Wipha, Macau still experienced substantial disruption.
Nearly 200 flights were cancelled during Wipha, and ferry services, local transport, and casino shuttles were suspended. The city’s three major border checkpoints, Gongbei, Qingmao, and the Zhuhai-Macao Cross-Border Industrial Zone, were closed temporarily, demonstrating the broader impact on tourism and mobility.
Analysts have noted the potential financial implications. Earlier this month, Seaport Research Partners warned that typhoons could hinder Macau’s estimated 13 percent growth in September casino gross gaming revenue (GGR). While Macau’s resorts continue to operate under careful oversight, the storm is likely to impact the revenues of the gaming sector.
