Visitor numbers are increasing, but COVID-19 cases are not. In fact, Macau has not reported a single new coronavirus case in months, and, to date, the enclave has confirmed only 46 total cases and zero deaths.<\/p>\n
Operators hope that the IVS process will become better streamlined in the months ahead. IVS visas are facilitated by the Public Security Bureau, but their immigration offices continue to require over-the-counter service, as self-serve kiosks remain offline.<\/p>\n
\nWe’re still having some trouble in terms of IVS and how IVS is currently working right now,” explained David Sisk, COO of Melco Resorts’ City of Dreams.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
“One of the things you can see is you can go to a non-Guangdong Province, and it can take a day. In Guangdong, sometimes it can take 14 days. We still haven’t seen a real consistent pattern other than just the incredible inconsistency,” Sisk added.<\/p>\n
Industry, Region Hurting<\/b><\/h2>\n
Casinos are the lifeline of Macau. The gaming industry employs the most people of any sector in the region, and its taxes account for nearly 90 percent of the local government’s budget.<\/p>\n
With COVID-19 suspending cross-border travel, Macau has suffered greatly as a result of the pandemic.<\/p>\n
The Macau Federation of Trade Unions said this week that 60 percent of casino employees have reported being forced to take unpaid leave at some point this year. At the onset of the pandemic, Macau Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng urged casinos to “fulfill their social responsibilities” and keep as many people employed as possible.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Macau officials say they experienced a much-needed surge in visitor arrivals last month. Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO) Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes said in her remarks today that the initial count of visitors in October totaled more than 600,000. If that figure is confirmed by the MGTO, which will release its final report […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":154628,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[69069,33810],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
Macau Reports October Surge in Visitor Numbers, Golden Weeks Pays Off<\/title>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n