• 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
  • Industry Talk
  • Trends & Tech
  • iGaming
  • follow
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • RSS Feed
    • LinkedIn

Mild hope of Macau Golden Week tourism perk: trade rep

Sep 28, 2020 Newsdesk Latest News, Macau, Top of the deck  


Mild hope of Macau Golden Week tourism perk: trade rep

Tourists from neighbouring Guangdong are likely to be the main component of Macau’s visitors during the upcoming Golden Week holiday starting on Thursday (October 1), a representative from the Travel Industry Council of Macau has told GGRAsia.

But tourist volume might be well under half that recorded in the same period last year, due this year to the ongoing economic and social impact of Covid-19 in mainland China, said Wong Fai, the trade body’s director.

Starting from September 23, applications for exit visas for exit visas – including those under the Individual Visit Scheme (IVS) – resumed nationwide in mainland China. Such application procedures had been reinstated for travellers from across Guangdong, with effect from August 26.

“For this Golden Week, if we could see at least 30 percent of the visitor volume we had in the same period last year, it would be pretty satisfactory,” said Mr Wong. China’s autumn Golden Week runs from October 1 to October 8 this year, which is one day more than the same holiday period last year.

Macau received 984,996 visitors during autumn Golden Week in 2019, 81 percent of them from mainland China, according to statistics from Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO).

“We expect that for this upcoming Golden Week, Guangdong visitors should remain our main source of tourists,” Mr Wong said.

He noted that across mainland China, issuance of exit visas for tourism now requires longer – at least seven working days – compared to before Covid-19, when the process was automated. Now, mainland residents have to apply for the visas in person and go through a manual application process at a relevant government office.

“We did also receive some news that certain institutions – such as some state-owned enterprises and schools – have advised their people not to leave their [mainland] city or province of residence during the long holiday,” Mr Wong stated.

“We saw examples like this in Guangdong. But we do not think that this is a nationwide, government requirement but rather decisions made by some institutions on the mainland, as a precaution against Covid-19 infection.”

The travel industry council boss said he hoped to see a greater number of mainland Chinese tourists from beyond Guangdong province, heading to Macau in the middle or latter half of the Golden Week vacation period.

Searches for Macau-related tourism products surged last week on the Chinese online tourism booking platform, Ctrip.com, according to local media reports. Trip.com Group – an online travel services provider that owns Ctrip, Skyscanner and Qunar – has collaborated with the Macau government in promoting the city’s tourism offers to mainland Chinese consumers.

“We did see increasing enquiries [from mainland Chinese tourists] about the offers here when we are now closer to the Golden Week vacation,” Mr Wong told us.

“The hotel occupancy here will definitely improve in this holiday period from the preceding months, but possibly not to the point of full occupancy,” at any properties, he added.


  • tweet
Related articles
  • Macau repeat visitors denied visa by China says Bernstein
    Macau repeat visitors denied visa by...

    May 16, 2022  

  • GEN Singapore posts US$29mln 1Q profit, up sequentially
    GEN Singapore posts US$29mln 1Q...

    May 12, 2022  

More news
  • Pragmatic Play to offer its slots via online platform bet365
    Pragmatic Play to offer its slots via...

    May 17, 2022  

  • PH Resorts widens 1Q loss, affirms going concern risk
    PH Resorts widens 1Q loss, affirms...

    May 17, 2022  


Latest News

Pragmatic Play to offer its slots via online platform bet365

Pragmatic Play to offer its slots via online platform bet365

May 17, 2022  

The Pragmatic Play brand, a leading content provider to the iGaming industry, says it has signed a deal to launch its complete slot portfolio on the bet365 online wagering platform. As a result,...
Read More
PH Resorts widens 1Q loss, affirms going concern risk

PH Resorts widens 1Q loss, affirms going concern risk

May 17, 2022  

AAEC side files appeal notice on failed lawsuit against LVS

AAEC side files appeal notice on failed lawsuit against LVS

May 17, 2022  

Sign up to our FREE Newsletter

UB8V5.qr.16(Click here for more)

Pick of the Day


US$14.5 million

First-quarter gaming revenue recorded by the casino at the Jeju Dream Tower resort in South Korea



Most Popular

  • Wynn CEO, Macau execs in base pay cut in return for sharesWynn CEO, Macau execs in base pay cut in return for shares May 17, 2022
  • Macau repeat visitors denied visa by China says BernsteinMacau repeat visitors denied visa by China says Bernstein May 16, 2022
  • Macau GGR tax cut may spur 15pct EBITDA hike: JP MorganMacau GGR tax cut may spur 15pct EBITDA hike: JP Morgan May 16, 2022
  • Macau mulls GGR tax cut if casinos attract foreign playersMacau mulls GGR tax cut if casinos attract foreign players May 13, 2022
Copyright 2014-2022 TEAM Publishing and Consultancy Ltd / All rights reserved
  • Code of Ethics
  • Privacy Policy
  • Useful Links
  • Contact Us