QUARANTINE-FREE travel has been granted to Macau residents travelling to neighbouring Guangdong who have tested negative for Covid-19 and hold official certificates issued within seven days of their journey.
The scheme began July 15 and allows qualified residents who live or work in Guangdong province to travel between the two sides without a 14-day quarantine.
Travellers would also need to activate a QR Macao Health Code and convert it into a Guangdong Health Code before crossing the boundary.
Tests must replace quarantine: industry leaders
The easing of the quarantine rule enables travel from Macau to Zhuhai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Foshan, Huizhou, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen, and Zhaoqing – all cities in the Greater Bay Area.
Negotiations between Hong Kong and Macau officials to introduce a similar health-code system between the two regions have been put on hold following a sudden spike in Covid cases in Hong Kong.
Macau travellers are still advised to avoid large gatherings within 14 days of entering Guangdong.
Macau and HK planners bridge Pearl Delta divide
GGR Asia quoted two analysts as saying the move was “an important step toward normalisation” of the travel market for Macau. But Macau DMC and events planner Bruno Simoes, of Small World Experience, said the measures would only have a “marginal effect” on the events industry and was primarily aimed at people working in Guangdong and Macau.
Officials across the region are working on forming “travel bubbles” to facilitate trips between territories with low or zero levels of infection.
Authorities have reported that the number of “tourists” travelling over the boundary into Macau from Guangdong rose 50 per cent to 1,600 after the easing of restrictions were eased.
