The number of visitors to Macau fell in August by 19 percent year-on-year but soared compared to July, when the region experienced the worst outbreak since the pandemic began, it was announced today.
The territory received about 331,400 visitors in August “due to the easing of restrictive measures at Zhuhai-Macau border crossings in early August,” compared with less than 9,800 in July, the Statistics and Census Bureau (DSEC) indicated.
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During the outbreak, which began on June 18, tourists coming to Macau would have to undergo a mandatory quarantine on their return to mainland China, a measure that was lifted on August 3.
The average length of stay of tourists was 5.4 days, up 1.5 days year-on-year, “as some tourists extended their departure from Macau until August because of the previous impact generated by the pandemic,” the DSEC explained in a statement.
The overwhelming majority of visitors (more than 290,000) came from mainland China.
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Unlike for those entering through the border with mainland China, those arriving from abroad or Hong Kong are still required to comply with a seven-day quarantine in a hotel, followed by three days of “medical self-surveillance” that can be done at home.
As of September 1, Macau began allowing entry to citizens, including tourists, from 41 countries, including Brazil, the United States, Australia, Japan, and South Korea.
In April this year, the territory had lifted border restrictions on university students and foreign teaching professionals, such as Portuguese teachers.
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On September 12, Forum Macau’s deputy secretary-general, Paulo Espírito Santo, lamented that citizens of Lusophone Africa were excluded from the list of countries whose nationals are allowed to enter the territory.
Macau faced in June and July the worst outbreak of covid-19 since the pandemic began, with six deaths and more than 1,800 infected during that period. The territory tightened control measures, impacting the local economy, which is heavily dependent on tourism from mainland China and the gaming industry.
In the first eight months of the year, Macau received 3.8 million visitors, down 25.8% from the same period in 2021 and 86% less than in 2019, before the pandemic began.
