Forget casinos, Macau is betting on becoming the party capital of Asia
Macau is on a mission to transform itself into the party capital of Asia with new venues and enterprising promoters spearheading its path to success
Rebranding Macau is easier said than done, despite declining gaming revenue and pressure from Beijing officials for the city to diversify its economy.
“The Chinese gamblers who come to Macau don’t really enjoy their time there,” says Paco Chan, director of Pomo & Stone, a Hong Kong-based entertainment and talent booking agency.
“They’re very serious about the gaming side and don’t seem to take advantage of the vast amount of dining, entertainment and leisure options available. From what I see, they just have a bowl of noodles and then go back to the casino.”
Despite gambling being the primary intention of most mainland tourists in Macau, there has been a greater push from casino operators and entrepreneurs, such as Chan, to steer the city towards becoming Asia’s entertainment capital.
“We want Macau to be known for being the party capital of Asia,” Chan says. “You can come to Macau for clubbing and partying. Other countries in Asia might have casinos, but we want to really develop the nightlife here so that Macau is one of a kind in this region.”
Other countries in Asia might have casinos, but we want to really develop the nightlife here so that Macau is one of a kind in this region
