Covid survey bodes ill for Golden Week

A Bank of America survey held in August found that only 47 percent of Mainland Chinese travellers who want to visit Macau would be willing to take a Covid-19 test, casting doubt on visitation for the upcoming Golden Week holiday. 

The survey, taken in August, also said applicants for Individual Visit Scheme visas may be deterred by the stringent entry requirements, Macau News reports. 

From Sept. 23, tourists from anywhere in China are able to apply for a visa to visit Macau. However, processing times can take up to 10 days.

Travel restrictions were lifted from Zhuhai on August 12 and from the rest of Guangdong from August 26. 

Macau recorded a nearly 207 percent jump in visitors in August over the previous month as border restrictions were eased.

According to the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC), there were more than 227,000 visitors over the course of the month. While this was more than double the number of visitors in July 2020, it still represented a 93.7 percent year-on-year decline.

Almost 70 percent of the August arrivals were same-day visitors.

The key Golden Week holiday is due to begin on Oct. 1.

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