DestinationsAs travellers turn away from the US, Macao looks to capture visitors deserting Las Vegas.

Trump is flipping the odds in Macao’s favour

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Macao blends glitzy casinos with rich heritage, world-class dining, and UNESCO sites – offering a more cultural, East-meets-West alternative to Las Vegas’ party-centric vibe.
Macao blends glitzy casinos with rich heritage, world-class dining, and UNESCO sites – offering a more cultural, East-meets-West alternative to Las Vegas’ party-centric vibe. Photo Credit: Adobe Stock/f11photo

As tourists turn away from the United States amid concerns about the reception they will receive at Immigration, the BBC has suggested alternatives for those who still hanker after the US but want to avoid a grilling at border control.

One alternative, the BBC suggests, is to swap Las Vegas for Macao.

For fans of Vegas, there's plenty that will feel familiar, but where Macao really stands apart is in its cultural depth, says the BBC.

“Just as in Vegas, visitors to Macao can experience shows and fine dining along with resort-style luxury hotels.”

Andy Eastham of travel firm Wendy Wu Tours told the broadcaster that Macau has the Vegas feel “and then a little extra”.

"For fans of Vegas, there's plenty that will feel familiar, but where Macau really stands apart is in its cultural depth. One moment you're sipping cocktails in a sky bar, the next you're wandering through cobbled lanes lined with pastel-coloured colonial buildings or watching dragon dancers outside a Taoist temple.

“It's the only place in China where Portuguese and Chinese cultures truly intertwine,” Eastham said.

Other alternatives to the US suggested by the BBC are:

  • For cowboy country, try Argentina.

  • For Grand Canyon grandeur, try Europe's deepest canyon, the Tara River Gorge in Montenegro.

  • For San Francisco, try Cape Town in South Africa.

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