Macau may soon end the 14 days quarantine requirement for visitors coming from Hong Kong. Recently, government officials from the two of China’s Special Administrative Regions (SARs) met to discuss lessening entry regulations between the two regions.
The leaders agreed to ease entrance stipulations starting on 3rd July as long as new cases of COVID-19 do not arise. The regions will lift the 14 days quarantine requirement if Hong Kong achieves 28 consecutive days without a new case of infection. Since 5th June, Hong Kong has not reported any new case of COVID-19.
The news of the reopening of Macau and Hong Kong is the most welcomed news by SAR’s casino resorts. The gaming revenue in the world’s largest gaming market dwindled by 66 percent in the first months of 2021 compared to the same period in 2019.
Currently, visitors arriving in Macau from Hong Kong are required to have a negative COVID-19 test within 24 hours before entry. They are also required to self-quarantine in Hotel for two weeks. Before the pandemic, Hong Kong generated 10 to 15 percent of Macau’s annual gross gaming revenue (GGR). In 2019 alone, 7.3 million Hong Kongers visited Macau.
Even with the lifting of quarantine requirements, an abrupt surge of visitors from Hong Kong is unlikely. This is because people entering Macau from Hong Kong will be required to be vaccinated. As of 20th June, only 18.8 percent of Hong Kongers have fully been vaccinated.
Family trips are also very unlikely since children are largely unvaccinated. There are also concern a single case is reported, and quarantine is reinstated. That indicates that Macau will experience a difficult 2021, and the situation may begin to improve in the latter part of the year.
