The Macau SAR Government has removed mandatory hotel quarantine requirements for all arrivals from Guangdong Province in a major step forward for Macau’s gaming and tourism operators.
According to information from Macau’s Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Centre, mandatory 14-day quarantine for anyone who has been in Guangzhou city’s Dashi subdistrict in Panyu has been lifted, leaving only Ruili in Yunnan province subject to quarantine upon arrival.
The easing of border restrictions with Macau’s main feeder market is expected to lead to a rapid recovery for operators after the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau reported a 37% month-on-month decline in GGR in June to MOP$6.54 billion. The June figure was also Macau’s lowest of 2021.
Macau authorities had added multiple districts in Guangzhou and Foshan to the mandatory quarantine list through May and early June due to an outbreak of COVID-19. Guangzhou had managed to achieve no new cases by 20 June.
The positive news comes as Macau continues negotiations with Hong Kong around implementation of a “blue health code” scheme that would also allow vaccinated arrivals from Hong Kong to skip quarantine.
