Sanford C. Bernstein Ltd has predicted that Macau’s GGR for August could be down 60 per cent compared to August 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Macau.- Brokerage\u00a0Sanford C. Bernstein Ltd<\/strong>\u00a0has predicted\u00a0that gross gaming revenue in August could be affected<\/strong> by a rise in Covid-19 cases in mainland China.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Last week, authorities reported that\u00a0all visitors that come to Macau<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>from any mainland Chinese city must hold a negative\u00a0nucleic acid test certificate<\/strong>\u00a0for Covid-19. According to\u00a0Alvis Lo Iek Long<\/strong>, Macau\u2019s Health Bureau, the acid test must be\u00a0issued within 48 hours<\/strong>\u00a0before travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Macau government<\/a> previously announced that it will update its health code<\/strong>. Visitors from mainland China will have to provide new information on vaccination status<\/strong> and whether people have previously contracted Covid-19. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As regards casinos, People must wear masks and have their temperature checked<\/strong>. Other venues covered by the countermeasure include hotels and guest houses, restaurants, bars, karaoke lounges, nightclubs, saunas, massage parlours and health clubs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Analysts said: “As the Covid-19 cases are still spreading across China, and\u00a0Macau-Hong Kong bubble travel<\/a>\u00a0is not likely to reopen soon, we forecast August GGR to be down 60 per cent compared to August 2019.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Statistics and Census Service (DSEC)<\/a> reported that 3,378,000 tourists checked into Macau hotels and guesthouses<\/strong> in the first six months of the year. The average hotel occupancy rate reached 50.4 per cent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The number was up 23.2 per cent from the prior-year period<\/strong>. According to the DSEC, the highest average hotel occupancy rate was registered in May<\/strong>, when Macau also saw the highest GGR<\/a> of the year to date thanks to the Labour Day break<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\nMacau average occupancy rate up 23.2 per cent in first half\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n