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Peggy Sito

A shortage of hotel rooms is hindering Macau’s growth, and further policy breakthroughs to facilitate the development of nearby Hengqin Island – three times the size of Macau – are needed to solve the problem, according to the chairman of Galaxy Entertainment Group.
“As Macau shifts towards a more mass-market and event-focused model, the question of hotel rooms must be addressed,” said Francis Lui Yiu-tung in a briefing with Hong Kong reporters on Monday.
With visitor arrivals growing, demand for hotel accommodations would continue to increase, and there was an urgent need for Macau to address the issue, he said.
Macau had about 45,000 rooms and welcomed 35 million visitors last year. In comparison, Las Vegas has about 160,000 hotel rooms for 40 million annual visitors.
According to Galaxy’s estimates, Macau needs at least 15,000 more hotel rooms, especially mid-priced ones with daily rates below HK$1,000.
Lui said policy breakthroughs to promote the development of nearby Hengqin Island would increase hotel capacity and help Macau’s economic diversification.
Mid-priced hotels in Hengqin would allow visitors to stay there but come to Macau for conventions, concerts and gaming, he said.
He suggested making it easier for visitors to cross the border multiple times, as well as reducing the time needed for border crossings by using technologies such as facial recognition.

Such measures would also allow the Hengqin government to take advantage of Macau’s 35 million visitors to boost its economy, he said.
Galaxy was one of the three original concessionaires in Macau when the gaming industry was opened up in 2002. In 2022, it secured a new concession valid from 2023 to 2032. In doing so, it committed to invest 28.4 billion patacas (US$3.5 billion), with around 97 per cent of that allocated to non-gaming initiatives.
Lui said Galaxy had been diversifying its business from casinos to entertainment, hospitality and conventions, in line with a broader plan under the new administration of Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai to diversify the economy.
South Korean rapper and singer G-Dragon, also known as Kwon Ji-yong, will perform at Galaxy Arena from June 6 to June 8, followed by Hong Kong crooner Jacky Cheung from June 20 to July 5.
Lui, also the chairman of Hong Kong-listed property developer K Wah International, said business activity, property transactions and the overall economy in Hong Kong had been improving since last year, even though the office and retail property markets were suffering and unlikely to recover over the short term.
However, business activity would continue to pick up and more companies would come to Hong Kong as the city consolidated its position as a trade and international finance centre, he said.


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Development of the island, which is three times Macau’s size, would boost the economy and its diversification, Francis Lui Yiu-tung says


Development of the island, which is three times Macau’s size, would boost the economy and its diversification, Francis Lui Yiu-tung says.


Macau’s Galaxy boss: hotel shortage ‘must be addressed’ with Hengqin Island policy

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Development of the island, which is three times Macau’s size, would boost the economy and its diversification, Francis Lui Yiu-tung says

Development of the island, which is three times Macau’s size, would boost the economy and its diversification, Francis Lui Yiu-tung says