Macau’s battered gaming industry received a boost this week with the phased resumption of travel visas from mainland China.
Nearby Zhuhai in Guangdong province has begun issuing tourist visas including for group tours, for Chinese residents to travel to Macau.
The rest of Guangdong province will likely start issuing visas on 26 August, Macau Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Ao Ieong U said.
Residents from the rest of China will be allowed to travel to Macau from 23 September.
Guangdong province accounts for about one-third of all tourist traffic to Macau.
The news boosted the stock price of most casino operators.
"By resuming Zhuhai visas first, we will monitor the situation and see if we could strive to achieve more convenience for residents in Guangdong or other places to come to Macau. Our economy needs tourists," Ao said.
Along with visa issuance, the 14-day mandatory quarantine imposed on residents returning to China will be lifted.
The vast majority of arrivals to Macau are from mainland China and the special administrative region is heavily reliant on tourism and casino tax revenues.
Macau’s GDP plunged 49% in the first quarter.
Macau has not had any new Covid-19 cases since late June.
Written by Ray Montgomery, Asia Pacific editor
