According to Macau’s Secretary for Economy and Finance Lei Wai Nong, the SAR government hasn’t modified its projections for 2021’s gross gaming revenue (GGR), despite a shortfall for the first six months. He added that he is personally confident about the second-half “Golden Period.”
The current forecast for the year is MOP130 billion (US$16.224 billion). GGR for the first half came to MOP49 billion, down 25 percent from forecasts. This means that the city’s casinos need to earn an additional MOP81 billion to reach the current goal.
Instead of “having a superstition on figures,” Lei said, the community should present a united front in the battle against Covid-19 infections. According to the Macau Daily Post, the government believes tourism from the mainland cannot return until the city is free from the risk of infection.
Lei said he’s confident about the economy’s performance in the second half of the year, which he referred to as the “Golden Period.” It includes National Day, Golden Week and the annual Macau Grand Prix.
Although the tourist arrival figures for June were down 40 percent, they bounced back in July. In addition, tourists have stayed longer in Macau, boosting the occupancy rate of local hotels and resorts.
