• About Us
  • The Team
  • Advertise with Us

The latest news on the gaming industry in Asia

() () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () ()
  • Home
  • Macau
  • Philippines
  • Singapore
  • Japan
  • Rest of Asia
  • World
  • Features
  • Industry Talk
  • Trends & Tech
  • follow
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • RSS Feed
    • LinkedIn

Macau caution on Guangdong visa outlook, says tourism boss

Aug 26, 2020 Newsdesk Latest News, Macau, Top of the deck  


Macau caution on Guangdong visa outlook, says tourism boss

The head of the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, says the bureau maintains a “cautious” outlook on the number of visitors likely to be coming to Macau, despite the resumption on Wednesday (August 26) of exit visas for Guangdong residents.

Guangdong residents beyond Zhuhai can now apply for Individual Visit Scheme (IVS) exit visas, while IVS applications for residents of designated cities in the rest of China will restart on September 23. The IVS scheme and tour group visa scheme had been suspended in late January, to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus linked to Covid-19

In comments to the local media on Tuesday, Ms Senna Fernandes said the tourism authority was not expecting a sharp increase in the influx of visitors from Guangdong province, as the tour visa scheme for escorted-group visits to Macau was yet to be resumed.

She also pointed out that it was currently easier to travel between provinces in mainland China, than it would be from Guangdong to Macau. For inter-province travel on the mainland, people were not required to show a nucleic acid test certificate confirming a negative result for Covid-19. To enter Macau, any person coming from the mainland will need such a certificate under current rules.

“We are still not able to receive tours [from the mainland]. On the other hand, visitors [to Macau] have to do a nucleic acid test,” said the MGTO director.

Ben Lee, managing partner of IGamiX Management and Consulting Ltd, said in comments to GGRAsia, that investors and others should be cautious about relying on too-rapid a comeback of Macau gambling revenues once tourists from greater Guangdong and the rest of mainland China start to return.

On Tuesday, the head of MGTO gave some commentary on the resumption earlier this month of IVS visas for people from Zhuhai, the mainland city next door to Macau. “Even with the resumption [of individual visas] from Zhuhai, on the best day we had just over 9,000 visitors,” stated Ms Senna Fernandes.

“Because of this very serious pandemic, people fear the possibility of contracting the virus. We still have a lot of work to do, specifically in terms of promotion … the most important thing is to make people feel safe when traveling to Macau,” she added.

Brokerage Sanford C. Bernstein Ltd said in a Monday memo that the resumption of exit visas for residents of Zhuhai to visit Macau for tourism has had “no impact yet” on the fortunes of the Macau casino industry.


  • tweet
Related articles
  • CNY daily visit average could be down versus Xmas: MGTO
    CNY daily visit average could be down...

    Jan 25, 2021  

  • Visitors stayed longer in Macau in 2020, says govt
    Visitors stayed longer in Macau in...

    Jan 20, 2021  

More news
  • Philippines to add POGOs to AML law to avoid FATF grey list
    Philippines to add POGOs to AML law to...

    Jan 25, 2021  

  • Okada Manila warns against online casino using its name
    Okada Manila warns against online...

    Jan 25, 2021  


Latest News

Philippines to add POGOs to AML law to avoid FATF grey list

Philippines to add POGOs to AML law to avoid FATF grey list

Jan 25, 2021  

The Philippine Senate (pictured) and House of Representatives have respectively approved amendments to the country’s Anti- Money Laundering Act, known as the AMLA, adding Philippine Offshore Gaming...
Read More
Okada Manila warns against online casino using its name

Okada Manila warns against online casino using its name

Jan 25, 2021  

CNY daily visit average could be down versus Xmas: MGTO

CNY daily visit average could be down versus Xmas: MGTO

Jan 25, 2021  

Sign up to our FREE Newsletter

UB8V5.qr.16(Click here for more)

Partners

Pick of the Day

"We have estimated that on average, the [daily] visitor arrivals for this year’s Chinese New Year break could turn out to be a bit weaker than for the Christmas holiday period"

Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes

Director of the Macao Government Tourism Office



Most Popular

  • Sands China sixth Macau op to pledge staff extra paymentSands China sixth Macau op to pledge staff extra payment January 21, 2021
  • Londoner Macao first phase launch Feb 8 says Sands ChinaLondoner Macao first phase launch Feb 8 says Sands China January 21, 2021
  • Macau Covid-19 case no bar to mainland travel tiesMacau Covid-19 case no bar to mainland travel ties January 22, 2021
  • Digital yuan eventually for Macau mass bets mulls BernsteinDigital yuan eventually for Macau mass bets mulls Bernstein January 22, 2021
  • Melco likely to take on more debt for expansion: Moody’sMelco likely to take on more debt for expansion: Moody’s January 20, 2021
Copyright 2014-2020 TEAM Publishing and Consultancy Ltd / All rights reserved
  • Code of Ethics
  • Privacy Policy
  • Useful Links
  • Contact Us