Even if HK/ China/ Macau quarantines are not removed, the relaxation for visitors coming from China using package tours and IVS could be positive for Macau, if fully implemented, and boom for stocks, leading brokerage Morgan Stanley reports.

Some Mainland Chinese cities appear to be slowing or tightening the issuance of Macau individual visit scheme visas (IVS), although there is not enough evidence yet to draw meaningful conclusions, J.P. Morgan analysts wrote in a note.

Macau’s Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Center has refuted rumors that the Individual Visit Scheme (IVS) scheme between Macau and China has been suspended. 

Macau’s tourism officials are pressing the mainland government to restart the Individual Visit Scheme (IVS) electronic visa, which would allow for more seamless travel between the two countries. 

The recent visa expansions and economic integration initiatives between Macau and mainland China suggest a significant boost for Macau's gaming industry, notes analyst Vitaly Umansky.

The Chinese government has announced the inclusion of eight mainland cities into the facilitated individual travel (FIT) scheme for visits to Hong Kong and Macau, with the new measures set to take effect from May 27, 2024.

A debt reduction of some $250 million has helped Melco Resorts & Entertainment to mitigate its refinancing risks and bolster the company's financial stability, says the group's CEO Lawrence Ho in its recent conference call.

New visa policy changes for mainland Chinese visitors to Macau will be ‘marginally beneficial in the short-term’ and the ‘sentiment around the Chinese government with respect to Macau is certainly positive’, notes analyst Vitaly Umanski.

New moves to relax visa requirements for mainland Chinese visitors to Macau is seen as a ‘positive signal’ by analysts, signalling China’s ongoing support for Macau’s economic development, to the possible detriment of other regions.

The Chinese government may launch a visa multi-entry visa between Macau and Hengqin for Chinese tour groups as soon as next month, a source familiar with the matter told AGB.