Pansy Ho of MGM China Holdings has expressed confidence in Macau’s future as a tourism hub, saying the gaming destination will remain competitive in the long term as long as it continues to innovate.
Speaking at a media briefing on the city’s development on Monday, Pansy Ho, chairwoman and executive director of MGM China, said Macau has already become a world leader in tourism.
“With a population of only a few hundred thousand, we are able to accommodate tens of millions (of tourists),” Ho said.
“In such a small place, we have tens of thousands of rooms, all five-star international brands. This is unique in the world and a world-class example.”
Ho stressed that Macau had not yet “gone all the way”, adding that there was no need to make short-term comparisons.
“We are taking things step by step, without blindly comparing ourselves to others in the short term. We are focusing on laying a solid foundation before moving on,” she said.
Commenting on Macau’s tourism development, Ho pointed out that there had been a noticeable shift towards a younger visitor demographic and changes in consumer behaviour, stressing that “it is necessary for local businesses to constantly innovate to keep up with evolving trends”.
According to her, the government has mandated casino operators to host two international sporting events every month and a major arts event every two years.
Casino operators have also been asked to host various art exhibitions every few months.
