Macau Aims to Attract South Korean Tourists as a Multi-Destination Hub

Macau Tourism Board Chair Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes delivers a speech at the 2026 Macau Tourism Seminar and Travel Mart held at the Four Seasons Hotel in Seoul on May 21, 2026. [Photo by Ki Soo-jung]

"This year, we aim to attract 41 million tourists, leveraging diverse infrastructure and integrated content to draw South Korean travelers to Macau," said Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, Chair of the Macau Tourism Board. Macau is accelerating its efforts to attract South Korean tourists as it transforms into a multi-destination hub connecting Hong Kong and Guangdong Province. On May 21, the Macau Tourism Board held the 2026 Macau Tourism Seminar and Travel Mart at the Four Seasons Hotel in Seoul, where it unveiled its key tourism strategies for the year.

◆ Macau Expands Engagement with South Korean Travelers

The event was attended by over 250 representatives from Macau, including Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, the Chinese Ambassador to South Korea Dai Bing, and officials from the Hengqin Economic Development Bureau, Macau International Airport, and major integrated resorts, as well as members of the South Korean travel industry. In her welcoming remarks, Fernandes noted, "South Korea is Macau's top overseas tourism market, with 184,900 South Koreans visiting in the first quarter of this year, a 7.4% increase compared to the same period last year. We aim to increase our engagement with South Korean travelers as we target a total of 41 million tourists and over 3 million foreign visitors this year." Dai Bing also addressed the audience, stating, "Since the return of Macau to the motherland, it has successfully implemented 'one country, two systems' and has established itself as a key city in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area. The Chinese Embassy in South Korea will closely cooperate with the Macau SAR government to actively support exchanges in culture, tourism, and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibitions) among various fields."

◆ Free Bus Service from Hong Kong to Macau: A Multi-Destination Travel Experience

This year's core tourism strategy for Macau focuses on enhancing accessibility and diversifying the global market. The emphasis is on developing multi-destination tourism products linked to Hengqin, Guangdong, and Hong Kong. As part of the "Fly You to Macau" campaign, free direct buses to Macau will be provided to foreign tourists using Hong Kong International Airport until the end of the year. Additionally, with the implementation of China's 240-hour visa-free transit policy, travelers from 55 countries can explore Macau, Hengqin, Guangdong, and Hong Kong without a separate Chinese visa for up to 10 days.

◆ Culinary Experiences, Performances, and Convenient Payments: Enhancing Stay Tourism

Macau is also expanding its offerings to transform from a simple visit to a stay-oriented destination. The "Tourism Plus" strategy combines MICE, culture, sports, and culinary experiences, with various experiential events planned throughout the year. The goal is to extend tourists' stay by featuring large-scale performance content. To enhance payment convenience for South Korean travelers, Macau has improved its payment options. In addition to KakaoPay, this year it will collaborate with Naver Pay to create a travel environment free from currency exchange burdens.

The Macau Tourism Board plans to continue strengthening business cooperation with the domestic industry to cater to diverse demands, from family travel to the MICE sector.

* This article has been translated by AI.

KI SU JEONG violet1701@ajunews.com