MACAU, CHINA. Three years after the COVID-19 pandemic forced border closures that took a heavy toll on the casino and travel retail communities, Macau’s tourism industry and related sectors such as travel retail, are gearing up for recovery after the Special Administrative Region re-opened its doors to visitors and eased post-entry preventive measures.
Aiming to bring back high rollers from Mainland China, the Asian gaming hub on Sunday welcomed almost 40,000 visitors – mostly from Mainland cities – while 5,600 visitors arrived from Hong Kong, according to the Macau government news website.
This was the highest single-day inbound passenger record since what was dubbed the ‘618’ outbreak.
As reported, ferry services linking Macau and Hong Kong resumed on 8 January, after being suspended for more than 1,000 days. Local broadcaster TDM reported there were 130 passengers in the first batch of arrivals from Hong Kong at Macau’s Taipa Ferry Terminal before 8am on Sunday.
Anticipating travel to peak during the Lunar New Year period, the government said it may consider adding routes and resuming night-time sailings to Hong Kong from other ferry terminals.
Reversing its zero-covid policy, Macau is now trying to revive its tourism-dependent economy by fully reopening its borders, easing most of its stringent health restrictions, and lifting quarantine rules.
Under the updated regulations, individuals coming from Hong Kong, Taiwan and the Mainland no longer need to provide any proof of COVID-19 testing, while those arriving from other foreign destinations simply have to present negative nucleic acid test or rapid antigen test results taken within 48 hours before arrival.
The government has also started to allow the entry of tourists from all foreign countries, scrapping its 41-country rule, which prohibited visitors from the Philippines, Vietnam, Nepal, Pakistan, Nigeria and others.
The latest developments in the territory were welcomed by the tourism industry. According to a statement by Macau International Airport, the civil aviation market in the Mainland and Macau is slowly bouncing back after the border reopening. Air Macau has resumed more flights to destinations in the mainland.
After the resumption of the direct flight from Chongqing to Macau last week, Air Macau launched promotions to boost ticket sales for Mainland Chinese travellers with a ‘Buy One Get One Plus’ offer. This allows two people travelling together to get one free ticket, and three people travelling together to get two free tickets. These tickets are available on the Air Macau official app and WeChat account as well as booking websites Ctrip, Fliggy, and other major apps.
The Civil Aviation Administration of China said that since 5 January, it has authorised the resumption of 13,230 passenger flights between Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan during the Lunar New Year holidays.
In a Macau International Airport press releae, a senior researcher at the Strategic Research Center of Ctrip Research Institute said the relaxation of entry policies and resumption of outbound travel will quickly restore consumer confidence in travel.
Chinese New Year tourism campaigns
The Macau government expects a surge of visitors this upcoming Lunar New Year with casino resorts and hotels launching aggressive tourism campaigns across Mainland China in an attempt to lure back luxury consumers.
To encourage tourists from Hong Kong to extend their stay in Macau and spend more, the government plans additional tourism promotional packages.
The Macau Government Tourism Office will also feature a series of events and festivities throughout the Lunar New Year season. Among them is the Golden Dragon Parade, scheduled on the first day of the Lunar New Year on 22 January. The Rabbit Jump Happy Chinese New Year 2023 Float Show will take place on the third and the seventh days of the Lunar New Year, on 24 and 28 January. Tourists and locals can also catch fireworks displays on 24 and 28 January near the city’s famous landmark, Macau Tower. ✈
*Camille Bersola, based in Manila, formerly hosted television news and current affairs Teledifusão De Macau from 2015 to 2021.
