Image source: bookajourney.com

Drawing mainland China travellers into Macau is not the challenge faced by tourism leaders and the local government, it’s keeping them around a little longer than a day.

According to Galaxy Entertainment Group senior manager of media relations Joyce Fung, with Hong Kong less than an hour ferry ride away, travellers from mainland China are spending the day enjoying Macau’s tourism industry and sailing off to spend the night in Hong Kong, The National reported.

“The average stay in Macau is only one night,” she said.

“The target is to attract guests to stay longer in Macau.

“It’s not only our target but the target of the government – how to attract them.”

Hoping to keep people around a little longer, Ms Fung said the region had begun developing “integrated resorts” that offer everything from malls, cinemas, swimming and a beach.

Visitor numbers into Macau increased 12.2 percent to 28 million last year, according to local statistics, with mainland Chinese making up to 25 million of those arrivals.