Macao Special Administrative Region’s Chief Executive, Ho Iat Seng, announced a series of initiatives for the city’s benefit supported by the Central Government at a press conference on 24^th September in the Government Headquarters, together with the Secretary for Administration and Justice, Cheong Weng Chon, and the Secretary for Economy and Finance, Lei Wai Nong.

Among the measures announced was the reinstatement of electronic travel permit issuance under the facilitated individual travel scheme, and the gradual resumption of group tours from Mainland China visitors to come to Macao. The measures apply to four provinces and one city in Mainland China, and will first be available to people in Guangdong province, and then to those in Zhejiang, Jiangsu and Fujian provinces, along with Shanghai municipality.

The reinstatement of e-travel permit issuance and group tours are expected to be resumed the earliest by the end of October or early November. The group tours will need to be suspended if there is a severe outbreak in Macao or any of the other relevant place but the subsequent resumption will not require additional approval from the Central Government.

Following the announcement, on the topic of resuming group tours from the Mainland, the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) immediately discussed the promotion and implementation plans with the tourism industry, which included the Association of Macao Tourist Agents, the Macau Travel Agency Association and the Travel Industry Council of Macau. The organisations discussed strengthening both online and offline promotions in the Mainland and encouraging the local industry to actively cooperate with travel agencies in the Mainland to grab the new opportunities, while safeguarding Macao’s image as a safe and quality destination. In the meantime, MGTO continues to enhance its online and offline promotion offensive in Mainland China and reinforce the city’s events, to expand visitor sources to the city.