Asia’s gambling hub back in business. Asia’s gaming center, Macau has taken the first steps on the road to recovery as the casino capital re-issues the visitor visas.
Visas will be granted in phases to both individuals and tourist tours from mainland China. Unlike Hong Kong, Macau is Chinese special administrative area (SAR). Authorities have not specified when visas will be made available to visitors from outside China wishing to fly to Macau.
Macau ‘s neighbor Zhuhai is the first to grant tourist visas to the mainland. According to a statement from China’s National Immigration Administration, the opportunity will be slowly rolled out to the rest of the world between August and September.
On top of the re-issuing of visas, the two-week quarantine imposed on Macau travellers upon their return to mainland China was lifted across the country.
Visitors from mainland China make up more than 90% of Macau’s tourists, which is home to major casino operators including Sands, Wynn, Galaxy and MGM.
[image: Elina Sitnikova]
