Macao Prepares to Host 13th APEC Tourism Ministerial Meeting in June

Macao is making extensive preparations to host the 13th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Tourism Ministerial Meeting from June 24 to 28, 2026. Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, director of the Macao Government Tourism Office, confirmed the Special Administrative Region's commitment to ensuring a successful event at a recent media briefing. The meeting will convene senior tourism representatives from APEC member economies to discuss regional tourism development and forge closer cooperation across the Asia-Pacific region, alongside the 67th APEC Tourism Working Group Meeting.

Preparations are well underway, encompassing staff training, sideline event organization, and coordination with China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the APEC Secretariat. Macao officials view the gathering as an opportunity to showcase the territory's hospitality, local cuisine, creative industries, and the blending of Chinese and Western cultures. The event will also highlight Macao's development over the nearly 27 years since its return to Chinese sovereignty under the "one country, two systems" policy.

Macao possesses considerable tourism infrastructure and capacity despite its modest size. The territory, spanning 33.4 square kilometers with a population of approximately 600,000, hosts globally recognized luxury hotel brands and concentrated tourism resources. Located in southern China adjacent to Guangdong Province and about 60 kilometers from Hong Kong, Macao attracts visitors with its UNESCO-listed historic sites, diverse culinary offerings, and world-class entertainment facilities.

Visitor arrivals to Macao have shown strong growth. In 2025, the territory recorded over 40 million inbound arrivals, a 14.7 percent increase year-on-year, with international arrivals rising 13.7 percent to nearly 2.8 million. Growth continued into the first quarter of 2026, with inbound arrivals up 13.7 percent and international arrivals increasing 10.7 percent compared to the same period in 2025.

The APEC tourism ministerial meeting represents one of approximately 300 APEC-related meetings and events taking place across multiple Chinese cities throughout 2026. China will further demonstrate its role as an APEC host by hosting the 33rd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Shenzhen in November, marking the country's third time hosting this summit following previous events in Shanghai in 2001 and Beijing in 2014.