Macau Tightens Visa Restrictions For Mainland China Visitors

18.07.2008, Lesen Sie hier den Bericht über «Macau Tightens Visa Restrictions For Mainland China Visitors».

Hong Kong (AFP) - Macau has stepped up entry restrictions on visitors from mainland China, the government said Thursday in the latest sign that it is trying to cool spiraling growth in the gaming haven.

The government said it was introducing the measures as some visa policies had been "abused" in the past.

Starting Aug. 1, Chinese passport holders who have permission to visit Macau before heading to a third destination will only be allowed to stay for seven days, instead of 14, the city's Public Security Forces Affairs department said in a statement.

Those who return to China without proceeding to a third destination will only be allowed a two-day stay if they apply using the same method again. If they fail to move on the second time, any future application will be refused.

In addition, from Sept. 1, mainland residents who hold entry-exit permits for traveling to and from Macau and Hong Kong, will no longer be able to enter the former Portuguese colony from Hong Kong.

The new measures are being introduced to "better regulate the flow of mainland visitors," the government said.

Macau, the only place in China where casino gaming is legal, has boomed in recent years mainly on the backs of Chinese visitors who have flooded into the city's gleaming casinos.

However, Chinese authorities are uneasy about corrupt local officials laundering their cash in Macau, the rise of problem gambling and whether profits are being sucked up by U.S. gaming giants.

The casino boom also has put pressure on the social fabric of Macau, which has a population of just 550,000 - with many complaining they have been left behind in the gold rush.

The city's chief executive, Edmund Ho, earlier this year announced a moratorium on new casinos to try and cool the spectacular growth.

NASDAQ.com

Über Glücksspiele in Macau - Gambling in Macao:

Macau (englisch Macao) liegt rund 50 Kilometer westlich von Hongkong und ist das Glücksspiel-Paradies in Asien.

Macau hat rund 40 Spielcasinos. Die grössten Casinos sind The Venetian Macao, MGM Macao, Wynn Macao, Galaxy StarWorld, City of Dreams, Sands Macao, Casino Lisboa.

Neben den riesigen und farbenfrohen Casinobuildings ist eines der Wahrzeichen der Macau Tower (Fernsehturm mit 338 Meter) mit atemberaubenden Ausblicken auf die Stadt.

Macau erstreckt sich über eine Fläche von 115.3 km2 und hat rund 620'000 Einwohner.

--- Ende Artikel / Pressemitteilung Macau Tightens Visa Restrictions For Mainland China Visitors ---


Weitere Informationen und Links:

Weitere Nachrichten der Gaming-Branche