Program for Macau e-visas and package tours launches

01 November 2022

Program for Macau e-visas and package tours launches

Decline in Macau GGR,
Ho Iat-Seng, Macau's chief executive, announced the program as a way to relax regulations related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Ho predicted at the time that this may lead to an increase of 40,000 Chinese tourists each day.

Electronic visa applications are now available at all of Macau's borders, allowing citizens of mainland China to visit the special administrative area with no extra documentation required.

The Macau administration expressed its hope that more visitors will help the region's economy, which has taken a hit due to travel restrictions, recover and host more trade events.

The plan also includes initiatives that aim to diversify the economy, help businesses, and improve infrastructure.

Additional doubt
Electronic visas are introduced during a period of increased economic and public health concerns in Macau. Following three months with no confirmed cases in the area, officials in Macau placed a lockdown on MGM Cotai on 30 October following the discovery of a limited number of Covid-19 cases there.

Everyone who had an obligation to stay at the venue stayed there till today. Everyone living in Macau is required to take a COVID-19 test every day until the outbreak is under control.

Additionally, seven operators are competing for a total of six concessions to run their businesses in Macau as part of the public tender licence process.

The current case cluster could lead to the policy's termination if the e-visa policy's built-in circuit breaker causes the issuance of new visas to be blocked in the case of a fresh outbreak.