(Yicai Global) Dec. 12 -- Macau has launched a subsidy plan for local travel agencies to entice back travelers after visitor numbers halved in the third quarter amid a Covid-19 resurgence.

China’s Macau Special Administrative Region plans to offer subsidies of as much as MOP400 (USD50) per tourist to local travel agencies that organize tours from the provinces of Guangdong, Zhejiang, Jiangsu and Fujian as well as Shanghai, and for tourists who check in at hotels in Macau. Agencies can apply for the payments between Dec. 9 and 23.

Known for its huge casinos and shopping malls, Macau had just 898,998 visitors in the three months ended Sept. 30, a 51 percent plunge from a year earlier, due to the impact of Covid-19.

Travelers stayed for 2.2 days on average in the quarter, an increase of half a day. Their spending, excluding in casinos, slumped 40 percent from a year ago to MOP2.9 billion (USD362.2 million), with spending per visitor climbing 23 percent to MOP3,222 (USD402), according to local government data.

Macau recently updated its Covid-19 controls, abandoning the requirement for regular polymerase chain reaction tests for event attendees, expanding the allowed seat occupation rate to 75 percent, lifting restrictions on going to restaurants, and introducing home isolation and treatment measures for people who are infected.

But some restrictions remain in place, such as the cap on the number of people in tour groups, and the advice to tour leaders and guides to take PCR tests at least once every seven days, which the Macau Health Bureau instituted on Oct. 26. 

The Macau Government Tourism Office has strengthened cooperation with airlines, e-commerce platforms, and online travel agencies in recent years to launch half price hotel vouchers and flight tickets to boost tourism.

In addition to attracting tourists from the Chinese mainland, Macau is also trying to entice overseas visitors to come and stay longer. The SAR is also part of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin.

Editor: Tom Litting