Macau tourism trade is in talks with mainland tourism agencies on how expanded tourism group trade through neighbouring Hung Chin Island will actually work, several industry representatives told GGRAsia.
They welcome news on Sunday from the Chinese National Immigration Service that individuals from mainland China can enter multiple arrivals between Macau and Hung-chien to participate in the “Macao-Hung-chin tour group.” Macau’s tour industry says the move can be expected to increase the amount of time visitors to the mainland’s public market spend while in Macau and increase their money.
Andy Wu Kueng Kuong, president of the Macau Travel Industry Committee, told GGRAsia, “Traditional (mainland) group tours usually spend one day, up to two days traveling to Macau.
“This new policy will help Macau’s tourism trade as it allows group tourists to spend more time in Macau on one trip.”
This was the basis that you could sleep in a cheaper hotel room in Hung Chin overnight.
Other measures announced by the country’s immigration agency on Sunday included that mainland residents traveling to Macau for exhibitions, medical appointments or performances could apply to visit the island multiple times a year via a visa labeled “other.”
Wong Fei, president of the Macau Leisure and Tourism Services Innovation Association, told GGRAsia that the multi-entry concept “basically provides more flexibility and convenience for [Macao] event planners as event goers have more incentive to tour or even stay overnight in Macao.”
Macao’s conference, incentive, conference and exhibition (MICE) trade has been the goal of the Macao government as a growth area for Macao’s economic diversification.
Wu said Macau’s travel sector is now working with the mainland on devising travel products for Hung Chin-Macao group tours.
Guidelines published Sunday afternoon said Hung-chien Economic Development Bureau could apply its group multiple entry policy to tours involving at least two people and up to 40 people. Any intersection is available on the mainland side for the group’s first Macao entry, but all subsequent round trips must go through Hung-chien Port, the bureau said.
The Hung-chien Bureau of Economic Development will oversee approval of requests from travel agencies seeking Hung-chien-Macao group travel. Such organizations will have to be accompanied by designated guides, the organization added.
The mainland authorities’ announcement on Sunday included that residents of China’s 20 metropolises, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen, can now apply for a Macau or Hong Kong visa entirely online, without having to visit the Chinese public security service.
BY: 에볼루션 바카라사이트