Macau welcomed 37,229 visitor arrivals on Saturday, its highest daily tally since early January coming just a day after Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng warned the large-scale return of tourists would not be seen anytime soon.
According to information from the Public Security Police Force, Saturday was the second consecutive day that visitor numbers had topped 30,000 with 33,209 people having crossed into the SAR on Friday. The last time visitor numbers reached 30,000 was 13 January.
Ho told reporters during an appearance at an International Women’s Day event on Friday that the mainland China government would not allow the resumption of tour groups to Macau in the near term due to growing COVID-19 outbreaks on the mainland.
“The severe situation in Hong Kong had spread to Shenzhen and Dongguan, so we believe the mainland will not allow a great number of tourists to Macau in the current environment,” he said.
Ho also reiterated the Macau government’s determination to follow the mainland’s lead by adhering to a strict “dynamic zero” policy. He pointed to the COVID-19 situation in Hong Kong – which reported a record 26,026 cases on Sunday – as one he didn’t want to see in Macau.
“We must stay in line with the mainland (on COVID-19 policy) as we have over 350,000 people entering and exiting Macau every day,” he said.
“If Macau does not synchronize and integrate with the mainland, it is difficult to maintain openness with the mainland.”
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