China’s National Immigration Administration (NIA) has announced a series of measures aimed at expediting the entry and in some cases extending the length of stay of mainland citizens to Macau and Hong Kong.
In what shapes as a significant boost to Macau’s leisure and tourism industries, the NIA confirmed the news via a lengthy statement on Sunday that mainlanders who join Hengqin-Macau tour groups will as of 6 May 2024 be allowed to make multiple trips between Hengqin and Macau within a seven-day period. Applications will be accepted at the entry-exit management window of any public security bureau across the country when group participation materials are presented.
However, the NIA also announced a raft of other key policy changes, including “full online processing” by which the residents of 20 mainland China cities – among them Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Beijing and Shanghai – can renew travel documents such as passports and Hong Kong/Macau passes online, without having to visit a Public Security office. The NIA said it will review and issue new travel documents within seven working days.
Also set to be introduced on 6 May is “intelligent expedited processing” for business visas, by which business travelers who apply for business visas to Hong Kong and Macau can submit their applications at any public security bureau across the country. Those who apply for multiple-entry business visas can use smart visa equipment for instant pick-up, while the maximum length of stay in Hong Kong and Macau will be extended from seven days to 14 days.
In addition, the NIA will expand its visa policy for talent traveling to work in Macau from cities in the Greater Bay Area to include Beijing and Shanghai. Six categories of talent fall under this expanded policy, among them “outstanding talents, scientific research talents, cultural and educational talents, health talents, legal talents and management talents”, each of which can apply for multiple visas with validity periods ranging from one to five years.
Likewise, mainland residents can apply for a visa for multiple visits to Macau within a 12-month period to participate in exhibitions, seek medical treatment or engage in performing arts, with those seeking medical treatment able to have one or two people accompany them.
In a note, investment bank JP Morgan described the news as positive for Macau’s gaming industry because the changes “could help in attracting incremental visitors to Macau (much easier and faster processing of visa, multi-entry group tour) and aid somewhat sluggish recovery in the grind/base mass segment.”
JP Morgan analysts also observed that some gamblers who happen to participate in MICE or get medical treatments in Macau frequently be able to visit Macau as many times as they want in a near visa-free manner.
“Perhaps more importantly, the news, alongside the IVS (Individual Visit Scheme) expansion news two months ago, suggests the mainland is fully supportive of Macau’s economy and travel/leisure,” they wrote.
“This shows a stark contrast to China’s rising scrutiny on cross-border gambling this year, such as government warnings on gambling in Singapore, South Korea, and Sri Lanka or crackdowns on illegal gambling in the Philippines and Cambodia.
“In other words, a series of news indicates that China’s government views Macau as the obvious and (relatively) preferred destination when it comes to gambling, and we wouldn’t be surprised if the Chinese gambling demand will be increasingly ‘ring-fenced’ around Macau.”
In response to the news, the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) said it would launch publicity programs “to tie in with the implementation of the new measures and continue to expand visitor sources.”
Lawrence Ho, the Chairman and CEO of Melco Resorts & Entertainment, stated recently that allowing multiple trips between Hengqin and Macau would benefit the SAR’s long-term development.
“The number of hotel rooms in Macau is only one-third of the number in Las Vegas,” he said.
“Hotel rooms in Hengqin are also cheaper than those in Macau, so if [mainland travelers] can make multiple round trips to Macau through Hengqin, it will be better for the development of Macau and Hengqin in the long run.”
