The main obstacle is the weak manufacturing base in Macau, which necessitates that all traffic be transit traffic. Macau also lacks the expertise in cargo handling and the telecommunications infrastructure to support cargo hub operations. The structure of Macau's economy is unlikely to change drastically after December 1999. The gambling industry will continue to dominate. Manufacturing cannot expand as there is little new investment and the workforce cannot compete with that on the Chinese mainland in terms of wage rates.
Tourism is the cornerstone of the economy, but the bulk of it is gambling related.
There are no plans for additional tourist attractions. Taiwanese transit traffic may grow since airport charges in Macau are considerably lower than in Hong Kong, nevertheless, the contribution of transit traffic to the economy is marginal. While the gambling business is the economic engine of Macau, it is also the source of instability. The gambling industry, by its very nature, is not susceptible to technological advancement or productivity growth. The only route of growth is sheer volume.