China's special administrative region of Macao is expected to attract up to 35 million visitors this year. But with only a regional airport many tourists have to travel through Hong Kong or elsewhere on China's mainland. The new 55-kilometer-long Hong Kong-Zhuhai bridge and tunnel connecting the tourist hotspot to Hong Kong and Zhuhai is about to change all of that.
With nearly 40 mega casinos Macau surpassed Las Vegas more than a decade ago as the world's gaming heavyweight. It's the biggest though not the only tourist-draw in town.
JACK BARTON MACAU
"For those not inclined to gamble there are ample rustic colonial era sights, beautiful walkways and, of course, plenty of shopping opportunities."
Anyway, you look at it tiny Macao punches well above its weight when it comes to tourism.
MARIA HELENA DE SENNA FERNANDES DIRECTOR, MACAU GOVERNMENT TOURIST OFFICE
"So now up to this point in time we are at about eight percent up compared to the year before, so we are looking at maybe at the end of this year 35 million visitors."
Jack Barton: So what impact can we expect from the new bridge linking Zhuhai, Macao and Hong Kong on the tourist industry?
MARIA HELENA DE SENNA FERNANDES DIRECTOR, MACAU GOVERNMENT TOURIST OFFICE
"We're looking at the bridge as a very important part of infrastructure to help us connect to the world. Our own airport allows only regional flights so we obviously need other places or other connectivity through especially Hong Kong international airport to help us tap into the medium to long-haul markets."
At 55 kilometers this is the world's longest sea-crossing bridge, but it's not just long-haul tourism likely to get a lift from this incredible piece of mega infrastructure. It's already a hit with visitors from China's Greater Bay area and the wider mainland.
MRS. WEI TOURIST FROM SHANGHAI
"We are planning to go to Hong Kong as our next destination, though my mother suffers from seasickness and she can't take the ferry to Hong Kong, but this time the opening of the bridge can give my mother access to Hong Kong by bus."
MR. ZHAO MACAO BUSINESS OPERATOR FROM ZHONGSHAN
"This is very convenient to visit Macao through driving my own car through the bridge."
The bridge will cut travel times between the three cities in Southern China to about half an hour, making for an easy commute rather than the much longer, weather-dependent ferry ride. Jack Barton, CGTN, Macao.
