Your Daily Asia Gaming eBrief: Macau lifting all entry restrictions on Jan. 8th

Friday 6th of January 2023

Good morning. A return to pre-pandemic visitation is on the horizon for Macau, as authorities announced that all entry restrictions would be scrapped starting January 8th. Testing requirements for China, Hong Kong and Taiwan will also be dropped, while foreign visitors will still need 48-hour NAT or RAT tests. And Genting Hong Kong is nearing its turbulent end, as the company has set creditor meetings for itself and Dream Cruises to appoint a permanent liquidator on January 18th and 19th.

What you need to know

Macau dropping all entry restrictions, allowing testing-free arrival from mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan, but testing foreign arrivals.
Genting Hong Kong will hold its first creditor meeting to appoint a permanent liquidator for itself and Dream Cruises.

On the radar

AGEM Index down 7.4 percent m-o-m in December.
Chinese fugitive accused of human trafficking intercepted in Manila.
Inbound tourism to Macau to improve with ferry/air/bus increases.
PH-China sign new tourism agreement, aim to boost visitation.

AGB Intelligence

MACAU

Macau drops all entry restrictions, no testing for Chinese arrivals

Macau is aiming to return to pre-COVID visitation, with the territory from January 8th to drop all entry restrictions, and eliminate testing mandates for arrivals from mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Visitors from foreign countries will still be required to provide a negative NAT test taken within 48 hours. All entry requirements for casinos have also been dropped, despite predictions, 70 percent of the population has been infected with COVID.