Macau can receive 25,000 visitors a day during the ‘National Day Golden Week’. After announcing that e-visas would be reinstated, Macau’s leisure and hospitality sector is set to receive another boost.
Cheng Wai Tong, Deputy Director of the Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO), said that between 20,000 and 25,000 visitors are expected to arrive daily from tomorrow (10/01) until October 7. National Day is celebrated annually on October 1st and commemorates the formal establishment of the People’s Republic of China.
This kicks off a period known as “Golden Week”, but due to the pandemic and China’s strict crackdown, celebrations have been muted in recent years. But as the world emerges from Covid-19, Macau hopes the holidays will give its leisure and hospitality sector a much-needed boost.
Tong said 25,000 daily visitors represented an “optimistic scenario”, but he predicted Macau would receive at least more than 20,000 visitors a day.
However, while this is an improvement over the daily arrival figures of recent years, even 25,000 a day would constitute a considerable decrease when compared to pre-pandemic numbers, when more than 100,000 visitors would arrive regularly each day.
Meanwhile, a sudden surge in daily arrivals could overwhelm Macau’s Covid-19 health protocols and risk another outbreak. In an effort to prevent this, the Macau Health Department will send additional teams to border checkpoints.
A statement from the Macau Government Information Department (GCS) said that travelers arriving in Macau must undergo a body temperature check and present a negative Covid test. Chinese health authorities also warned against inter-province travel.
