Macau’s chief executive candidate Sam Hou-fai pledges residency shows to boost tourism

Sam Hou-fai, the sole candidate for Macau’s chief executive position, has vowed to boost tourism by encouraging casino operators to introduce more residency shows, a move aimed at revitalizing the city’s entertainment offerings. The proposal follows reports that British pop star Adele recently turned down a high-profile offer to perform in Macau.

Residency shows, which feature extended performances at fixed venues, could help Macau attract a steady stream of visitors, Sam said during a recent town hall meeting. "Although we missed a star performer, we can still promote long-term operations of residency shows to make Macau a more attractive destination," he added.

Sam also emphasized leveraging Macau’s historical connections with Portuguese-speaking countries to compete with neighboring cities like Hong Kong and Shenzhen. Despite being a major gaming hub, Macau has fallen behind in areas such as technology and finance. Sam acknowledged the need to address these gaps by better integrating with the Greater Bay Area, a regional development plan aimed at fostering closer economic ties between cities in southern China.

"Our unique advantages, such as our links with Portuguese-speaking nations, have not been fully utilized," Sam noted, urging policymakers to focus on these strengths. He also suggested potential changes to visa policies that would allow foreign visitors to maintain visa-free status when making round trips between Macau and mainland China.

In response to President Xi Jinping's 2019 call to diversify Macau’s economy beyond gaming, Sam underscored the importance of developing non-gaming sectors like healthcare, finance, and cultural industries. Macau’s casino operators have already committed 100 billion patacas ($12.5 billion) to invest in non-gaming elements as part of their license extensions.

Sam has actively campaigned ahead of the October 13 election, where a 400-member committee will select Macau's next leader. With all but 14 members nominating him, he is widely expected to secure the top job.