Macao will become a competitive international travel destination in the next five years, a director of Forbes Travel Guide said.

Due to its proximity to nearby travel hotspots, Macao has seen its international fame rise in recent years, with nearly 20 million visits paid to the city every year.

"Macao should not stick to its traditional gambling industry, but also look to other inspirations to become an internationalized entertainment metropolis. Attention must be paid to building a diversified tourism," He Yongna, a director with the Forbes Travel Guide, told China News Service.

Its new hotels and restaurants and the improving infrastructure are all advantages that Macao can use, says He.

Macao should think of ways to attract more international tourists to Macao, in order to strike a balance between overseas and mainland tourists.

Macao also has potential for business tourism, especially in the meetings, conventions and exhibitions industry, He said.

Taking the city's surroundings into consideration, it is hard to find a place like Macao, where tourists could find lots of cheap hotels, entertainment and cultural heritages in one spot, according to He.