A view of Macao from a cruise ship.
The Tangs, a family of three from Hebei Province in north China, were full of gasps of admiration as they went on a Hengqin-Macao bay cruise in southern China. The cruise started from Hengqin, a small island with remarkable economic achievements on the Chinese mainland, and then went past the picturesque Macao Special Administrative Region. The passengers frantically clicked away at the passing landmarks – the 338-meter Macau Tower, one of Macao’s most iconic architectures, the four spectacular sea-crossing bridges connecting Macao Peninsula and Macao’s Taipa Island, and of course the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, the longest bridge-cum-tunnel sea crossing in the world linking Hong Kong with the city of Zhuhai on the mainland.
Tang and his wife were traveling with their daughter. Although they didn’t have time to apply for a travel permit to Macao, when they learned that they could take a cruise to enjoy the scenery of Hengqin and Macao, they signed up immediately. Thanks to a spate of recent innovative tourism policies, the inter-regional Hengqin-Macao tour has become very popular, helping boost the economy of both regions.
Late last year, China’s National Immigration Administration announced a multiple-entry policy for Shenzhen residents traveling to Hong Kong, a one-visit-per-week policy for Zhuhai residents traveling to Macao, and a multiple-entry policy for those coming to Macao from the Hengqin Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone, a collaborative initiative between Guangdong and Macao to foster closer economic ties and promote cooperation.
Cross-Region Tourism
This strategy is another boost for developing a cross-region tourism industrial chain between Zhuhai and Macao, Zhu Jie, president of the Tourism Association of the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone, said.
Thanks to these policies, the cooperation zone has seen remarkable progress in the tourism industry. During 2023, Hengqin received 11.64 million tourists, a 25.03 percent increase compared to 2019. Its tourism industry generated RMB 2.79 billion in revenue, up 11.45 percent from the previous year.
In the first three quarters of 2024, around 11 million tourists visited Hengqin, representing a 27 percent year-on-year growth, and tourism revenues amounted to RMB 2.66 billion, up 18 percent. These figures reflect not only the strong growth momentum of Hengqin’s tourism industry but also its unique appeal.
Hengqin has various popular tourist attractions, including the Chimelong International Ocean Tourist Rresorts, Sumlodol Hengqin Campsite, Xiangzhoubu cultural center, and Red Sandalwood Museum. In addition, Hengqin’s proximity to Macao adds to the popularity of cross-regional tourism.
A multiple-entry policy for Hengqin-Macao tourist groups took effect on May 6, 2024. The policy allows mainland tour groups multiple enries and exits during a one-week period between Macao and Hengqin. This is designed to enhance personnel and business exchanges between the two regions.
On that day, Macao welcomed the first tour group with 16 visitors who came from different mainland provinces. Each of them received a gift bag containing a circus ticket and souvenirs.
The 2024 Macao & Hengqin Camping Festival in Hengqin. It was held on October 26 and 27.
Integrated Tourism Between Hengqin and Macao
The “group entry, group exit” policy allows travel agencies to develop diverse travel routes and cover diverse events like the Macau Grand Prix, the Macau International Fireworks Display Contest, and the China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai. The combined effects of both regions has boosted the growth of industries such as conferences and exhibitions, and sports events tourism. Hengqin is being developed as China’s new international leisure tourism island.
As of now, 49 travel agencies are authorized to organize Hengqin-Macao tours. They include large online travel platforms such as Ctrip and Tuniu, as well as travel agencies based in major cities of Guangdong and other provinces.
Additionally, financial assistance is offered for the branding of tourism enterprises operating in the cooperation zone, the operation of Macao's cultural tourism brands in Hengqin, and the development of creative tourism products.
Lin Yanjie, an official from the Econmic Development Bureau in the cooperation zone, said Macao, a city with a World Heritage Site and a capital of gastronomy, also has several international flight routes, smooth entry and exit processes, and a first-rate hospitality industry. “All these features make it a top tourist destination internationally,” Lin added. “Hengqin complements Macao with its picturesque natural landscape, large theme parks, and supportive measures for Macao’s hotel business, creating a strong synergy between the two regions.”
Lin added that the cooperation zone will continue to develop new tourism highlights in sectors such as tourism + health, tourism + technology, as well as exhibitions + education.
