Macau Chief Executive Ho Iat seng announced Saturday that mainland China will reinstate both package tours to Macau and eVisas under the Individual Visit Scheme (IVS) in what shapes as a massive boost for the SAR’s gaming and tourism operators.

Of the 27.9 million mainland Chinese visitors to Macau in 2019 – prior to the pandemic – 13.1 million of them travelled under the Individual Visit Scheme and the vast majority of those utilized eVisas.

The long-awaited positive news comes just weeks after the Macau government also initiated the first phase of reopening to the world with visitors from 41 countries now permitted to enter, although they still must undergo seven days of hotel quarantine and three days of self-monitoring at the place of residence.

Hong Kong announced on Friday that it was scrapping its hotel quarantine system altogether, however Ho said Macau is not in a position to follow suit.

The first groups will be from Shanghai and four Chinese provinces including Guangdong, the Macau government said at a press conference Saturday, after receiving the go-ahead from the Chinese authorities. But the city will tighten travel restrictions again if Covid outbreaks resurface, it said.

The once bustling gambling hub has taken a heavy blow from China’s Covid-zero policy. Gaming revenue fell by about half in August from a year earlier as fewer Chinese travelers were able to enter the former Portuguese colony. The Macau government aims to double the number of daily visitors to 40,000.

The plunge in tourism hit other businesses in the city, such as suppliers of slot machines, baccarat table systems and other casino equipment. They moved out to more welcoming markets such as Singapore and the Philippines.

Nearby Hong Kong announced on Friday an end to its mandatory hotel quarantine, in an effort to lure back visitors and revive its battered economy.

By Coco Liu