China zero-Covid policy may persist to 2023: Macau scholar

Oct 12, 2022 Newsdesk Latest News, Macau, Top of the deck  

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China shows no sign of easing its “dynamic zero-Covid” policy regarding community management of Covid-19 infection risk, and it may persist into next year, with the potential for continued impact on Macau’s casino sector, said local gaming scholar Wang Changbin in comments to GGRAsia.

The term “dynamic” is understood to be an indication by the mainland authorities of the need for mass-testing and if necessary lockdowns, but on a rolling basis, depending on when and where outbreaks occur.

The country’s leader, President Xi Jinping, has several times made public announcements about the necessity and efficacy of the policy. Some investment analysts covering Macau gaming had surmised the policy might ease after the imminent staging in Beijing of the National Congress of the ruling Communist Party.

But Mr Wang, director of the Centre for Gaming and Tourism Studies at Macao Polytechnic University observed to GGRAsia: “With this policy continuing, Macau’s gaming and leisure industry will continue to suffer due to the uncertainties and disruptions to the travel plan of the tourists in mainland China,” amid the “related control measures.” He added the situation could persist into “next year”.

For three consecutive days this week up to and including Wednesday, People’s Daily, a leading state-run national newspaper, published editorial comment stressing the need to continue the policy as the best way of serving the social and economic needs of the country’s people.

Another Macau academic, Ricardo Siu Chi Sen, told GGRAsia that based on “the tone” of the three editorials, it seemed “quite likely” that China would maintain its dynamic zero-Covid approach “in congruence with and to cope with” various emerging variants of Covid-19.

But Mr Siu, associate professor in business economics at the University of Macau, said that “while the pace of recovery” so far experienced by the Macau gaming and tourism sectors “may not be as fast” for the rest of this year and early next year, “as the [investment] markets are looking for,” nonetheless “Macau’s success in controlling this pandemic has gained the approval and support of the Chinese government”.

Vigilance against further outbreaks

Provided there were no repeat of the sort of Macau community outbreak that occurred in mid-June, and no serious outbreak in the neighbouring mainland province, Guangdong, “continuation of the ‘dynamic-zero’ policy… may at least not slow down the recovery for our tourism industry from the current stage,” added the scholar.

A statistical update on Wednesday, from the country’s National Health Commission, confirmed that at least one community in each of China’s 31 provinces, autonomous regions and major cities, had confirmed incidence of Covid-19 infection.

The Wednesday commentary of People’s Daily mentioned that vaccination coverage on the mainland – especially among the elderly, children, and those specifically deemed unsuitable to receive Covid-19 jabs – did not currently provide sufficient “defence” against either infection, or the risk of severe infection.

To date, mainland China remains the only place to have a largely quarantine-free travel arrangement with Macau. The Macau government has stated on several occasions that its Covid-19 prevention policy is in line with mainland China’s.

Macau saw a “slightly underwhelming” recovery in gaming revenue during this month’s Autumn Golden Week, with consumer confidence about leisure spending and travel possibly weakened by recent Covid-19 outbreaks on the mainland, suggested financial services firm Citigroup in a Monday memo.

A rise in mainland infection cases amid the holiday period coincided with weaknesses since Monday in stock prices across Macau’s six casino operators.

(Updated 11.25am, Oct 13)

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