Macau to reduce Hong Kong reliance, target Greater Bay Area to expand tourism industry in 2020

The Macau SAR government is planning to strengthen tourism development in the Greater Bay Area (GBA) in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic by reducing its reliance on Hong Kong International Airport.

The Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Ao Ieong U, presented at the Q&A session at the Legislative Assembly on Monday. She reiterated that Macau is pushing the mutual recognition of its health code system with mainland China, but highlighted that preventive measures against COVID-19 might become a “new normal” and would sustain over a period of time.

A series of limitations on Macau’s tourism industries were outlined due to the impact of the pandemic, such as the reliance on visitors from mainland China and flights into Hong Kong.

“Macau recorded double-digit growth of international visitors in the first half of 2019. However, international visitors significantly dropped in the second half of last year, influenced by the situation in Hong Kong,” said Director of Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO), Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes.

“We have to review our current civil aviation network to expand our international markets, which is a long-term goal for us.”

As a result, Macau is looking at utilizing the GBA’s aircraft networks to promote joint-tourism products with cities in the GBA. The government expects travel styles and trends will be significantly changed around the world following the COVID-19 pandemic and also needs to review its civil aviation planning for long-term development.

To help the SAR’s languishing tourism industry recover, more measures will be launched soon after the pandemic is over.

The annual “Explore the Light” festival for example, will now be held in September 2020, three months earlier than usual. Local tour operators, travel agencies and hotels will also receive support and subsidies in the near future. The government even plans to hold international sporting events every month in order to promote “sports tourism” in Macau, it said.

Zhuhai to accept Macau’s COVID-19 test results

The Zhuhai government has revealed it will now recognize test results from COVID-19 tests conducted in Macau for residents living in Zhuhai City – another small but significant step on the road to easing border restrictions.

Currently, Macau residents holding Zhuhai residential cards are the only group able to enter Zhuhai without undergoing a mandatory 14-day medical quarantine. However, until now they have had to receive COVID-19 tests at the Gongbei border, imposed by the Zhuhai government.

The Zhuhai government announced on Wednesday that Gongbei port will no longer provide the virus test service from 8 April, with the tests to instead be administered by Macau’s health authorities and six designated hospitals in Zhuhai.

The Health Bureau in Macau will provides tests from 9am to 9pm every day at the Taipa Ferry Terminal, with the test results to be confirmed on the spot and shown on the individual health code system after 24 hours.

About 15,000 Macau residents are estimated to be living in Zhuhai. However, the daily test quota in Macau is 4,000, so residents must book their tests online. Residents' first test is free of charge, but they will have to pay MOP$180 for each subsequent test.

Macau is still requiring non-resident workers from mainland China to undergo a 14-day quarantine before entering the city, however health officials said a further notice on the arrangements for Chinese non-resident workers will be announced soon.

Macau officials deny border restrictions set to ease this week

Macau health officials stated on Tuesday that there is still no confirmed date for the easing of border restrictions between Macau and mainland China, with some key details yet to be finalized.

Downplaying rumors circulating on social media claiming border restrictions would be removed by the end of this week, the Health Bureau clarified that Macau is still negotiating with the mainland Chinese government.

In particular, mutual recognition of each government’s health code systems and current capabilities for virus testing must be determined before any progress is made. Officials instead urged the public to be “patient.”

The update comes as it was revealed several foreigners trapped in Macau for several months now have requested assistance in returning home.

The Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO) has received a number of inquiries seeking help to leave Macau, having previously assisted several non-residents from Thailand, Portugal, Italy and Indonesia in doing so.

Meanwhile, just 87 people remained in medical quarantine in Macau’s Pousada Marina Infante Hotel as of Tuesday.

減少依賴香港，澳門於2020年將著力拓展大灣區旅遊業

在新冠肺炎疫情之後，澳門特區政府打算加強在粵港澳大灣區的旅遊發展，減少對香港國際機場的依賴。

社會文化司司長歐陽瑜週一列席立法會施政辯論會議。她重申澳門正推進與內地的健康碼互認，但強調針對新冠肺炎的防疫工作將會常態化，並持續一段時間。

疫情之下，澳門旅遊業面臨的一系列限制越加突顯，例如對內地旅客和對香港航班的依賴。

旅遊局局長文綺華表示：「2019年上半年來澳的國際旅客錄得雙位數字增幅。但是，受香港事件影響，去年下半年國際旅客亦出現嚴重跌幅。」

「我們需要檢視目前的民航網絡以拓展國際客源，這將是我們的長遠目標。」

因此，澳門正思考善用大灣區民航網絡，加強推廣與大灣區城市的聯程旅遊產品。政府又預計在全球疫情以後，旅遊形式和態勢會有重大改變，因此檢視民航安排也是長遠發展所需。

另外為協助萎靡的旅遊業恢復，疫情後預計將有多項的措施推出。

例如，一年一度的「光影節」將比過去提早數月，於今年的9月舉行。本地旅遊團營業者、旅行社和酒店在不久將來將獲得支援和補貼。政府又計劃每月舉行一項國際體育盛事，以推動澳門的「體育旅遊」發展。

珠海承認澳門新冠肺炎病毒測試結果

珠澳政府宣布承認由澳門為居珠澳人實行的新冠肺炎病毒檢測結果——是對於放寛口岸限制雖小但意義重大的一步。

目前，持有珠澳居住證的澳門市民是唯一一群獲准入境珠海而無需接受14天強制醫學隔離的人士。不過，他們仍需在拱北口岸接受由珠海市政府安排的新冠肺炎病毒檢測。

珠海市政府於週三宣布拱北口岸自4月8日起不再提供病毒測試服務，繼而由澳門衛生局和六家珠海的指定醫院實行。

澳門衛生局每天將於氹仔客運碼頭提供病毒測試服務，由早上9時至晚上9時，測試結果將即場確認，並在24小時後於個人健康碼系統顯示。

預計約15,000名澳門居民正在珠海生活，不過，澳門每天的檢測名額只有4,000個，因此居民必須透過網絡預約。居民首次接受測試為免費，但續後每次需支付澳門幣180元。

澳門仍然要求來自內地的外僱在入境澳門前須接受14天醫學觀察，不過衛生局官員表示將於近日公布內地外僱的安排。

澳門官員否認口岸限制將於今週放寛

澳門衛生局官員表示，仍未落實何時放寛澳門與內地之間的口岸限制，部分細節仍待落實。

社交媒體流傳本週將有望解除口岸限制措施，但衛生當局官員澄清，澳門仍然與內地政府商議之中。

當局強調，兩地的健康碼系統互認，以及病毒測試能力，是任何政策落實前必須解決的配套措施，呼籲大眾要有「耐心」。

不少外籍人士亦由於口岸限制而滯留澳門多月，向政府求助希望能離開澳門。澳門旅遊局收到多宗希望離開澳門的求助，並且已協助部分來自泰國、葡萄牙、意大利和印尼等的非本澳門居民離開。

目前正有87人在澳門的皇庭海景酒店接受醫學隔離。