Macau: visitors down 99.8% over Easter

Only 1,000 people arrived in the city over the first three days of the Easter weekend.

Macau.- The Public Security Police Force has revealed that visitor numbers to Macau during the Easter break were down 99.8% year on year as the Coronavirus pandemic continues to impact the gaming industry.

According to authorities, only 1,000 people arrived in the city over the first three days of the Easter weekend.

Just 260 people entered Macau on Friday, followed by 280 on Saturday and 270 on Sunday for a three-day total of 810 arrivals.

Last year, almost 556,200 people visited Macau over the four day Easter holiday weekend at an average of 139,000 per day. This represents a 99.8% year-on-year drop in visitation over Easter.

The fall is not surprising while border restrictions remain in force as part of efforts to halt the spread of Covid-19.

While Macau casinos remain open, public transportation between Macau and Hong Kong is suspended and all arrivals from Hong Kong are required to undergo mandatory medical quarantine in a designated hotel for 14 days.

Mainland China is the only destination from which some travellers are still exempt from mandatory quarantine, but Guangdong announced a 14-day quarantine on all arrivals from Macau and Hong Kong, including its own residents, on 27 March.

This measure has been attributed in part to the slow down in visitors to Macau.