Macau tourism trade is in talks with mainland tourism agencies about how expanded tourism group trade through neighbouring Hungchin Island will actually work, several industry representatives told GGRAsia.
They welcome news Sunday from China's 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 mainland public market visitors spend while in Macau and increase their money.
"Traditional (mainland) group tours usually spend a day, up to two days traveling to Macau," Andy Wu Kuong, president of the Macau Travel Industry Council, told GGRAsia.
"This new policy will benefit Macau's tourism trade as it allows group tourists to spend more time in Macau on one trip."
This was the basis for a night's sleep in a cheaper hotel room in Hengchin.
Other measures announced by the country's immigration department on Sunday included mainland residents going to Macau for exhibitions, medical appointments or performances being allowed to apply to visit the country multiple times a year via visas categorized as "other."
Wong Pai, president of the Macau Leisure and Tourism Services Innovation Association, told GGRAsia that the multi-entry concept "basically provides [Macao] event planners with more flexibility and convenience as event goers have more incentive to tour or even stay overnight in Macau."
Macau's trade in conferences, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) has been a goal of the Macau government as a growth area for its economic diversification.
Wu said Macau's travel sector is currently working with the mainland on devising travel packages for Hung-chien-Macao group tours.
Guidelines released late Sunday said the Hengqin Economic Development Bureau could apply the group's multiple entry policy to tourism involving at least two people and up to 40. Any subsequent round trip must be via Hengqin Port, although any intersection is available on the mainland side for the group's first entry into Macau, the bureau said.
The Hengchen Economic Development Bureau will oversee approval of requests from travel agencies wishing to travel to Hengchen-Macao groups. Such groups will have to be accompanied by designated guides, it added.
The announcement by mainland authorities on Sunday included that residents of China's 20 largest cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen, can now apply entirely online for Macao or Hong Kong visas without having to visit China's public security bureau.
BY: 바카라사이트윈