• 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 diversification into non-gaming to remain slow: Fitch
    Macau diversification into non-gaming...

    Mar 24, 2023  

  • March 18 Macau arrivals nearly 100k, best since pandemic
    March 18 Macau arrivals nearly 100k,...

    Mar 23, 2023  

More news
  • Foreigners can use HK-Macau free ticket says tourism boss
    Foreigners can use HK-Macau free ticket...

    Mar 27, 2023  

  • Raffles hotel checks complete at Galaxy Phase 3: MGTO
    Raffles hotel checks complete at Galaxy...

    Mar 27, 2023  


Latest News

Foreigners can use HK-Macau free ticket says tourism boss

Foreigners can use HK-Macau free ticket says tourism boss

Mar 27, 2023  

Tourists from overseas travelling to Macau via Hong Kong will also be eligible for a free single-leg journey by bus or ferry from participating carriers, said on Monday Macau’s tourism boss. Maria...
Read More
Raffles hotel checks complete at Galaxy Phase 3: MGTO

Raffles hotel checks complete at Galaxy Phase 3: MGTO

Mar 27, 2023  

Melco’s Studio City has foreigner-only bet zone: checks

Melco’s Studio City has foreigner-only bet zone: checks

Mar 27, 2023  

Sign up to our FREE Newsletter

UB8V5.qr.16(Click here for more)

Pick of the Day

”Human capital constraints and skill gaps pose a key challenge for Macau to substantially reduce its high dependence on the gaming industry”

George Xu, Andrew Fennell and Jan Friederich

Analysts at Fitch Ratings



Most Popular

  • Macau diversification into non-gaming to remain slow: FitchMacau diversification into non-gaming to remain slow: Fitch March 24, 2023
  • Sands China woos Singaporeans as Air Macau opens routeSands China woos Singaporeans as Air Macau opens route March 23, 2023
  • Melco’s Studio City has foreigner-only bet zone: checksMelco’s Studio City has foreigner-only bet zone: checks March 27, 2023
  • Raffles hotel checks complete at Galaxy Phase 3: MGTORaffles hotel checks complete at Galaxy Phase 3: MGTO March 27, 2023
  • Main-building work at Naga 3 begins mid-2023: NagaCorpMain-building work at Naga 3 begins mid-2023: NagaCorp March 24, 2023
Copyright 2014-2023 TEAM Publishing and Consultancy Ltd / All rights reserved
  • Code of Ethics
  • Privacy Policy
  • Useful Links
  • Contact Us