The association believes that the local economy may have reached 108 billion patacas (11.3 billion euros) between January and March, according to a report released on Wednesday. “In the first quarter of 2026, the macroeconomy got off to a strong start,” the association said, driven by “robust performance” in the tourism, leisure, and finance sectors.
In the world’s casino capital, the gaming sector maintained its “upward momentum,” with gross revenue in the first quarter of 65.9 billion patacas (6.92 billion euros), the report noted. “This represents a 14.3% increase compared to the 57.66 billion patacas [6.06 billion euros] recorded in the same period last year,” the association added.
The report highlights that tourism figures “also remained robust,” with over 10 million visitors in the first quarter, a “significant increase” compared to the same period in 2025.
Hotel occupancy rates “remained at high levels over a long period,” the association stated. The labor market also “remained stable,” with total employment and the unemployment rate “remaining at relatively favorable levels,” the document notes.
Read also: Macau: mortgage loans drop 58.3%
Macau recorded an unemployment rate of 1.7% between December and February, the same as the rate for the period between November and January, and close to the all-time low of 1.6% set two years ago. The number of unemployed stood at 6,400, 100 fewer than between November and January, according to the latest official data.
“This reflects the continued and significant driving force of the tourism and leisure sector within the service industry,” the economists added.
However, the association warned that Macau’s economy may face “dual pressures from high oil prices and weak consumer spending” in the second quarter. “The unclear situation in the Middle East has created a high degree of uncertainty for the global economy,” the report warns.
“As an export-oriented economy [for services], Macau may find it difficult to remain unscathed by the war,” the association suggested. The document adds that the local government needs to “closely monitor the local economy and society” in light of the potential dual pressures.
