Some 120,000 passenger round trips were made between Hengqin and Macau using group tourist visas over the past year, according to statistics from the Hengqin Border Inspection Station.
The monthly average has increased from 4,000 in 2024 to over 20,000 this year, effectively promoting the integration of cultural tourism and industrial development in both regions.
The figure was revealed on Tuesday, May 6th during the one-year anniversary of the multi-entry visa for tour groups between Hengqin and Macau being launched.
According to the local media outlet TDM, Su Kun, Deputy Director of the Guangdong-Macau In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, stated that the policy greatly facilitates business and tourism development in Hengqin and Macau, and the Executive Committee will continue to discuss optimizing the policy with relevant mainland Chinese authorities.
Zeng Xiang, Deputy Chief of the Hengqin Entry-Exit Border Inspection Station, stated that they will continuously evaluate the effectiveness of the policy and collect feedback from travelers to provide suggestions for further policy optimization.
Yang Song, Deputy General Manager of China Travel Service at the Gongbei Port, said that the policy allows groups as small as two people, making it convenient for tourists to travel to Macau via the Hengqin port.
It is worth noting that this policy has been launched targeting nationwide tour group visitors. The policy is believed to have an impact on Macau’s hotel industry, as tour groups may have access to budget hotel options while attending visits or business trips in Macau during the day and staying at Hengqin.
After launching this policy, in December last year, SJM Resorts has signed an MOU with Zhuhai Hengqin Shun Tak Property Development Company Limited, a Shun Tak Holdings subsidiary, to acquire office properties in Hengqin for RMB546 million ($75.1 million).Â
According to parent company SJM Holdings Limited, these properties at the Shun Tak Business Center near Hengqin Port will be reconverted into a new 3-star hotel under the ‘Lisboa’ brand.
