AGP Executive Report

Municipal Kennel Update: Macau’s Municipal Affairs Bureau says the Municipal Kennel will close for maintenance and renovation from June 1, with a temporary service point set up at the former Ox Warehouse next to the site; veterinary consultations, surgeries and pet cremation bookings will be suspended during the works, while key services like follow-ups, licensing, vaccinations, quarantine, health certificates, adoption and cremation remain available. Sports & Events: Sands China confirms the Macau Open Badminton 2026 returns to the East Asian Games Dome in Cotai June 16–21, with players from 29 countries/regions and a US$370,000 prize pool. Media & Culture: China Media Group rolls out 42 new global Chinese-language programs. Travel Rules Abroad: Thailand cuts visa-free stays for many nationalities back to 30 days, with knock-on effects for some travellers. Tourism Safety: APEC-related unmanned aircraft bans are set around Macau Tower and the commerce platform June 24–28.

Municipal Services Update: Macau’s Municipal Kennel will close for maintenance and renovation starting 1 June, but a temporary service point will open the same day at the former Municipal Cattle Stable storehouse to keep core pet services running (with some appointment types suspended). APEC Security Measures: An unmanned aircraft ban is set for 24–28 June around Macau Tower and the Commerce & Trade Platform area during the APEC Tourism Ministerial Meeting. Cross-border Wildlife Crackdown: Gongbei Customs seized 67 hermit crabs hidden in a handbag, reminding travellers that bringing live animals/plants into the mainland without approval is illegal. Family & Culture: The Macao International Children’s Arts Festival is expanding, with plans for about 1,000 programmes and around 300,000 participants from July to August. Health Watch: Macau is also keeping an eye on regional outbreaks, while new research is fueling calls for daily exercise to better protect heart health. Tourism Momentum: Guangdong rolled out ten tourism measures to strengthen its push as an international tourism hub. Gaming Outlook: CBRE says Macau’s near-term earnings outlook stays tricky, with VIP volatility and competition still clouding forecasts.

Customs Crackdown: Zhuhai’s Gongbei Customs seized 67 live hermit crabs hidden in a handbag as a mainland woman tried to smuggle them from Macau to Zhuhai, warning that bringing live animals/plants into the mainland without approval is illegal. Family Fun Gets Bigger: Macau’s International Children’s Arts Festival is set to expand this year, with about 1,000 programmes aiming to draw roughly 300,000 participants from July to August. Food Safety Alert: Macau authorities told residents to stop eating a Thai “Lim Jing Hieng” shredded pork stick after a sample was found to contain excessive BHT antioxidant. Travel & Culture Buzz: STAYC announced a fan concert tour that includes Macau on Sept. 26, while UTM and Melco co-organised “Melco Day” to push industry-academia talent links. Infrastructure Update: Amizade Bridge maintenance starts this Saturday, shifting traffic to single lanes in phases until mid-August. Luxury Spotlight: Macau was named Asia’s Best Luxury Destination 2026, with MGTO pointing to a big Russian visitor rebound.

Industry-Academia Push: UTM and Melco co-organised “Melco Day” at UTM Taipa, featuring a CEO-focused session with Lawrence Ho to link cultural-tourism careers with real industry direction. Public Health Watch: The Health Bureau is urging residents and health workers to stay alert to Ebola after WHO declared the DRC and Uganda outbreak a Public Health Emergency, with new checks at borders, hospitals and the community. Luxury Tourism Spotlight: Macau picked up “Asia’s Best Luxury Destination 2026” at LUXE Asia in Shanghai, with MGTO pointing to strong Russian arrivals and luxury trade activity. Cross-border Enforcement: Gongbei Customs seized 132 cigars, 200 cigarettes and 56 cosmetics at HZMB checkpoints. Getting Around: A 90-day Friendship Bridge maintenance project starts Saturday, cutting approach lanes from two to one. Community Events: International Children’s Day activities roll out across Macau, centring children’s participation rights. Travel & Leisure: Sands Shopping Carnival returns for a seventh year (23–26 July) with free entry.

Public Health Alert: Macau’s Health Bureau (SSM) is urging residents and private clinics to stay vigilant against Ebola after WHO declared the DRC and Uganda outbreak a Public Health Emergency, with new checks at border points, hospitals and the community, plus hospital response drills for frontline staff. Luxury Tourism Buzz: MGTO says Macau has won “Asia’s Best Luxury Destination 2026” at LUXE Asia in Shanghai, highlighting rising Russian arrivals and luxury trade events. Cross-border Security: Gongbei Customs at HZMB seized 132 undeclared cigars, plus 200 cigarettes and 56 cosmetics in separate cases. Local Life & Travel Planning: A 90-day Friendship Bridge maintenance project starts Saturday, cutting approach lanes from two to one. Community Events: International Children’s Day activities roll out across Macau, focusing on children’s participation rights. Business & Leisure: Sands Shopping Carnival returns for a seventh straight year (23–26 July).

Luxury Spotlight: Macau just made its debut at LUXE Asia 2026 in Shanghai, winning “Asia’s Best Luxury Destination 2026” as MGTO pushes high-end travel—especially after Russian arrivals jumped 84.5% in Q1, with 60+ luxury buyers brought in for matching. Health Watch: The Health Bureau is urging travellers to stay alert to hantavirus risks linked to an Atlantic cruise case, with hygiene and rodent-avoidance advice for trips to South America. Culture Calendar: The Macao International Museum Day Carnival 2026 kicks off at Lotus Square with 26 museums joining for games, workshops and family-friendly programming. Numbers on the Economy: Macau’s Q1 GDP rose 7.1% year-on-year, driven by stronger exports of services as visitor flows improved. Tourism Business Move: O MEDIA launched Access Macau, a new unit offering market-entry support for international firms tapping Macau’s non-gaming diversification.

Public Health Alert: Macau’s Health Bureau (SSM) is urging travellers to stay vigilant over hantavirus linked to an Atlantic cruise outbreak, highlighting hygiene and avoiding rodent contact as WHO monitoring continues. Cultural Calendar: The “Macao International Museum Day Carnival 2026” kicks off at Lotus Square with 26 museums joining forces for games, workshops and family-friendly performances. Tourism & Heritage: Sands China is keeping Macau’s firecracker-making memories alive through ongoing exhibitions and activities tied to the Iec Long Firecracker Factory’s legacy. Education for Diversification: A local forum spotlighted how non-tertiary education can support Macau’s “appropriate economic diversification,” feeding into the city’s wider talent push. Business & Market Access: Access Macau was unveiled as a new unit to help international firms enter the SAR, aligning with the concessionaires’ big non-gaming investment push. Regional Watch: The China-Russia Expo opens in Harbin, with visa-free tourism and cross-border e-commerce among the themes.

RWS Transformation Debate: Genting Singapore says its Resorts World Sentosa casino overhaul is a priority, pushing back on shareholder comparisons with rival Marina Bay Sands—arguing the two integrated resorts were built with different goals, with RWS still reporting a 3% revenue dip and a 24% EBITDA drop in 1Q26. Macao Economy Update: Macao’s GDP rose 7.1% year-on-year in real terms in Q1 2026, driven by a 12.8% jump in exports of services as visitor arrivals surged around Lunar New Year. MICE Push: Macao and Hengqin picked up awards for annual meetings and innovative MICE policy support, backing the “multi-venue event” model. MGTO Luxury Marketing: MGTO branded Macao as a luxury destination, winning “Asia’s Best Luxury Destination 2026” and targeting Russian high-end buyers. Getting Around: LRT ridership climbed about 80% in 2025, with Hengqin Station leading demand. Health Watch: Macao confirmed its first imported malaria case of the year, a mainland traveller returning from Nigeria.

China-US Diplomacy: Xi Jinping used the Temple of Heaven’s “Hehe” philosophy to frame coexistence as Trump’s China visit wrapped up, while Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the summit delivered “common understandings” on major issues. Macao Economy: Macao GDP rose 7.1% year-on-year in Q1 2026, driven by a jump in exports of services as visitor arrivals surged around Lunar New Year. Macao Tourism Push: MGTO is doubling down on high-end positioning—Macao and Hengqin won top MICE awards, and MGTO’s luxury push in Shanghai targeted Russian growth. Getting Around: LRT ridership climbed about 80% in 2025 to 9.62 million passengers, with Hengqin Station leading demand. Industry Talk: At G2E Asia, MGM China’s Kenneth Feng said Macau is shifting toward premium mass, demanding faster, more customer-focused execution. Health Watch: SSM confirmed Macao’s first imported malaria case this year.

Macao’s Q1 momentum: Macao GDP rose 7.1% year-on-year in real terms in Q1 2026, with exports of services up 12.8% as visitor arrivals surged during Lunar New Year and other festive events. Luxury MICE push: At an Asia-Pacific MICE awards gala, Macao was named “Best Destination for Annual Meetings,” while Hengqin’s cooperation zone won for innovative MICE policy support—both tied to the “multi-venue event” model. Tourism marketing upgrades: MGTO also landed a “Long-Standing Membership Award” at PATA in Korea and is now backing boutique hotel promotion via Agoda, with Outer Harbour properties getting extra exposure. Getting around: LRT ridership climbed about 80% in 2025 to 9.62 million passengers, and the network’s next expansion is already in motion. What to watch next: G2E Asia + Asian IR Expo is driving fresh “Sports Plus” talk as Macau looks beyond gaming for the next growth phase.

Macau GDP Boost: Macao’s economy grew 7.1% year-on-year in real terms in Q1 2026, with exports of services up 12.8% as visitor arrivals surged around Lunar New Year and other festive events. Tourism Push: MGTO is also leaning hard into luxury and international reach—Macao won “Asia’s Best Luxury Destination 2026” at PATA, and Agoda is teaming up to spotlight Outer Harbour boutique hotels for new markets. Getting Around: LRT ridership climbed about 80% in 2025 to 9.62 million passengers, and the network is still expanding toward the Hengqin Line timeline. Industry Pivot: At G2E Asia + Asian IR Expo, leaders kept stressing Macau’s “Sports Plus” direction to move beyond gaming-only growth. Health Watch: Macau confirmed its first imported malaria case of the year, with the patient seriously ill after travel to Nigeria.

Shanghai’s International Services push: Shanghai will roll out 26 measures to speed up the internationalization of government services, including a dedicated section for overseas businesses and more cross-border travel perks for frequent travelers. Macau IR pivot: At G2E Asia + Asian IR Expo, Mario Ho doubled down on a “Sports Plus” vision to move Macau beyond gaming-only identity, while MGM China CEO Kenneth Feng said Macau’s premium mass push is reshaping strategy as suite yields can be up to five times higher than standard rooms. Expo momentum: The co-located events (May 12–14) are drawing 8,000 professionals from 90+ countries with 150+ brands focused on digital innovation. Tourism targets & pressure points: MGTO is aiming for 3 million international arrivals in 2026, even as oil-price and flight-cost concerns linger. Health watch: Macau confirmed its first imported malaria case of the year. Culture on the calendar: “Macao International Museum Day Carnival 2026” returns to Lotus Square on May 17.

Museum Buzz: Macao’s “Macao International Museum Day Carnival 2026” kicks off at Lotus Square (Bairro da Ilha Verde) on Sunday, with performances, games, workshops, and a postcard design showcase—plus free museum openings across May. G2E Momentum: At The Venetian Macao, G2E Asia + Asian IR Expo is drawing 8,000-plus industry professionals, with Macau pushing digital and non-gaming growth while operators debate how to win in a more mature, premium-mass market. Tourism Targets & Pressure Points: MGTO is aiming for 3 million international arrivals in 2026, while rising oil prices are already leading to flight cuts and possible knock-on effects for visitor numbers. Health Watch: Macau confirmed its first imported malaria case of the year, and SSM flagged a sharp April rise in mosquito breeding, lifting dengue/chikungunya risk. Industry Moves: Galaxy posted 1Q results with net revenue up 11% YoY, and Wynn unveiled a $900m luxury Enclave expansion at Wynn Palace.

G2E Asia momentum: The Venetian Macao is hosting G2E Asia + Asian IR Expo (May 12–14), drawing about 8,000 industry professionals from 90+ countries and 150+ brands as the sector leans hard into digital upgrades and new entertainment-led growth. Macau health alert: Macau confirmed its first imported malaria case of the year—an adult man who traveled to Nigeria for business—while the SSM also flagged a sharp April rise in mosquito breeding, lifting dengue and chikungunya risk. Tourism push: MGTO is aiming for 3 million international arrivals in 2026 and is expanding marketing beyond Asia, including Europe. Gaming industry reality check: Analysts at G2E warned Macau is entering a more mature phase, with hotel capacity and changing mainland gambling habits pressuring operators. Business updates: Galaxy reported 1Q26 net revenue up 11% YoY (adjusted EBITDA up 8% YoY), and Studio City announced results from its tender offer for 2027 notes.

Public Health Alert: Macau confirmed its first imported malaria case of the year—a 47-year-old man from the Chinese mainland who traveled to Nigeria (Apr 22–28), fell ill after returning, and is now hospitalized in serious condition. Tourism Partnerships: TDM Macau and Sri Lanka’s Maharaja Media Network signed a historic MoU in Macau to boost Sri Lanka-bound arrivals from China and Macau via stronger media cooperation. Industry Spotlight: G2E Asia + Asian IR Expo opened at The Venetian Macao, drawing 8,000 professionals from 90+ countries and pushing digital innovation across gaming and integrated resorts. Macau Gaming Business: Studio City reported results of its tender offer for 7% senior secured notes due 2027, while Galaxy posted 1Q26 net revenue up 11% YoY (adjusted EBITDA up 8.5% YoY). Travel Costs Watch: MGTO said rising oil prices are already affecting flights and ferry surcharges, and could weigh on visitor numbers. Mosquito Risk: SSM warned April’s mosquito index jumped, raising dengue and chikungunya risk.

MGTO at PATA Summit: Macau’s tourism office is in Korea for PAS 2026, winning a “Long-Standing Membership Award” and using the trip to invite delegates to PATA Travel Mart 2027 in Macao. Talent pipeline: UTM and SJM launched “Forge My Own Journey,” pairing degrees with paid SJM internships, while GEG signed a UTM MOU to roll out the IRISE integrated-resort talent programme. Expo buzz in Cotai: G2E Asia + Asian IR Expo opened at The Venetian with 150+ brands and 8,000 expected professionals, as operators talk up the next growth phase. Suites drive margins: MGM’s Kenneth Feng says suite products can yield up to five times more than regular rooms—an answer to Macau’s diversification push even as key counts shrink. Tourism targets & pressure points: MGTO is aiming for 3 million foreign visitors in 2026 and is also watching rising oil prices after flight and ferry disruptions. Health watch: SSM reports April’s mosquito index jumped, raising dengue risk. Macau business snapshot: Galaxy posted 1Q26 net revenue up 11% YoY, with adjusted EBITDA up 8.5% YoY, while panelists warn Macau is entering a more mature, margin-pressured era.