Macau to revive some IVS facilities for Chinese visitors
from web site
It comes to an end after news broke that local officials had decided to partially revive the Individual Visit for mainland visitors (IVS).
The IVS system was launched in 2003 and eventually allowed residents of about 30 Chinese communities to enter Macau on their own for up to a week to enjoy the extensive entertainment and gambling activities offered by former Portuguese residents.
This has led to a significant decrease in the number of tourists from mainland China visiting Macau, as well as a significant decrease in the operation of Macau casinos. The source detailed that this latter decline was the biggest manifestation last month, with total gaming sales at nearly 40 gambling-friendly venues in the region falling 94.5% year-over-year to just over $167.8 million.
Macau's Minister of Social and Cultural Affairs Aoi Yung reportedly said the country will revive the IVS system for residents of neighboring China's Zhuhai region from Wednesday, despite the ongoing threat posed by the pandemic. A government official reportedly explained that anyone who wants to use the plan must test negative for coronavirus and have been issued a green health code.
The official announced that Macao hopes to extend the IVS mechanism to residents of other mainland Chinese communities in the near future but is obliged to withhold the facility entirely if just one new coronavirus is recorded locally. Correspondingly, she reportedly said Macau tourists will be allowed to travel across China without meeting the 14-day quarantine requirements starting Wednesday.
