Coco Li, a 42-year-old woman from Hubei province who was visiting with her husband, said they chose to come to Macao because travel rules had relaxed.

Li said she was planning to buy cosmetics, handbags and clothes and “definitely go to the casino and gamble for fun, as we still need to control ourselves.”

LABOUR SHORTAGE

Macao’s government has promoted its cultural heritage, food and entertainment to mainland visitors over the past year.

Authorities are keen to diversify Macao, which depends on casinos for more than 80 per cent of its government revenues and has imposed strict new regulations on its six casino operators.

The rush of visitors comes as the densely populated territory grapples with an acute labour shortage.

Hotel occupancy is expected to reach around 90 per cent, with some fully booked for the holiday period, industry analysts said.

Galaxy Entertainment Group Ltd said its Raffles hotel would open in the second half of 2023, a delay from earlier plans to open in the first half.

“We’ve been actively working with the Macao government on our labour requirements,” the company said. “For our existing resorts we’re effectively fully staffed for the upcoming May holiday.”

Sands China Ltd said staff constraints had impacted the number of available rooms in the first quarter, but the situation had improved somewhat in March.

“The company expects that to improve further during the current quarter, so the current outlook is optimistic,” it said.

In the meantime, some travellers have been struggling to find accommodation.

Outside Sands’ Venetian resort, a 40-year-old man surnamed Wang from Shanxi province who travelled to Macao frequently before the pandemic, was shocked by the crowds.

“I couldn’t even book a room so I just have to wait and see if the casino can give me a room as a gift,” he said.