Ho Iat Seng, Macau\u2019s chief executive, has voiced concerns for the holiday period if Covid-19 cases remain high in China.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Macau.- Macau authorities are closely monitoring the evolution of Covid-19 cases in mainland China as the Labour Day holiday period approaches. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Macau\u2019s chief executive, Ho Iat Seng<\/strong>, said: “Today is the 12th already. If we do not see a zero-Covid-19 case scenario [in mainland China] by this month\u2019s end, we are going to have a big problem with the Labour Day holiday.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, he said that after the current wave of Covid-19 infections on the mainland, including in\u00a0Shanghai<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Guangdong<\/a>, has passed and the situation stabilise, the city will resume negotiations with mainland authorities to restart package tour visa issuance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yesterday, Wong Fai, president of Macau Leisure Tourism Services Innovation Association<\/a>, told GGRAsia that hopes for the Labour Day holiday period \u201care going to be dashed\u201d if Macau retains the requirement for visitors entering via the neighbouring province of Guangdong to hold a negative nucleic acid Covid-19 test certificate issued within 24 hours before arrival.<\/p>\n\n\n\n China’s State Council has designated April 30 to May 4 as this year’s Labour Day break, a period which usually sees strong market demand in Macau. Last year\u00a0165,500 tourists came to Macau<\/a>\u00a0during the Labour Day holiday period. The first day was the peak, with 44,000 arrivals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The global financial services firm UBS <\/strong>estimates that Macau\u2019s gross gaming revenue (GGR) is unlikely to return to pre-pandemic levels until 2027. It predicts a 29 per cent drop in revenue this year, forecasting sales of around $12bn, 34 per cent of 2019 levels<\/strong> ($36bn).<\/p>\n\n\n\nMacau GGR won\u2019t return to pre-pandemic levels until 2027, UBS says<\/h2>\n\n\n\n