The Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT) has announced plans to revitalize Chinese visitor numbers by easing visa restrictions—a key move in its broader tourism recovery strategy. DOT officials highlighted the successful outcomes seen in neighboring ASEAN countries, which boosted tourism by waiving or easing visa rules for Chinese travelers. Today, the DOT is actively coordinating with the Department of Foreign Affairs and its global posts to simplify visa procedures, particularly for free independent travelers (FITs) and group applications.
Macau's gaming industry is off to a flying start this month, with Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) reaching US$554 million in the first seven days of September. This impressive figure, highlighted in recent JPMorgan analysis, points toward a solid trajectory—Macau is on track for year-on-year double-digit GGR growth during the month.
Amid growing public concern over the rise of online gambling, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) chairman Alejandro Tengco strongly reaffirmed that the solution lies in enhanced regulation—not a sweeping ban. In a recent interview, he emphasized that the licensed online gaming industry contributes significantly to government revenues—approximately PHP100 billion (US$1.77 billion) annually, including about PHP50 billion in licence fees alone during 2024. With employment for around 32,000 individuals supported directly by the sector, Tengco warned against knee-jerk legislative bans that could erase these economic gains and displace workers.
This September marks the 20th anniversary of Grand Korea Leisure Co. Ltd (GKL), a milestone the company commemorated with pride. Since its inception in September 2005, GKL’s Seven Luck casinos—operated exclusively for foreign visitors—have welcomed approximately 22 million international guests. In marking this achievement, GKL highlighted its substantial contribution of KRW 740 billion (about USD 531 million) to South Korea’s Tourism Promotion and Development Fund, underscoring its standing as a key player in the nation's tourism outreach efforts.
MGM Resorts CEO Bill Hornbuckle conveyed a strong message from the Bank of America Securities 2025 Gaming & Lodging Conference: Macau’s promotional environment has become more manageable—even as VIP patronage surges—thanks in part to regulatory oversight. He acknowledged, “We got very aggressive on the casino floor… we changed a bunch of things: how we fed people on the floor, how the floor is designed, the padding in the carpet… the lighting, the correlation between how you position the games.” He added, “Fortunately, although it’s always aggressive [in Macau], we haven’t seen it creep out of control… I think there is a check and balance on that.”
Author: Janice Chew • Monday, 08/09/2025
