Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Elsie Ao Ieong U told reporters yesterday on the sidelines of the traditional blessing ceremony outside the Macau Grand Prix Building in Zape she was confident that the three-day motor-racing event can attract 30,000 tourists despite the recent COVID-19 flare-ups in the mainland.
Ao Ieong said that in the past few weekends, Macau’s visitor arrivals reached 30,000 so she was not too worried that the recent novel coronavirus cases in the mainland would affect ticket sales. She underlined that according to her previous experience, hosting the Grand Prix can help Macau attract tourists and rebuild their faith in the city’s tourism. However, she stressed that it was important that Macau continues its COVID-19 prevention and control measures.
When asked whether there will be a concrete timeline for lifting the mandatory quarantine for arrivals from Hong Kong, Ao Ieong said that the local government would stay aligned with the mainland’s COVID-19 prevention and control guidelines.
The media also asked how many racers are still undergoing quarantine. Sports Bureau (ID) President Pun Weng Kun replied that there were still eight of them in the quarantine hotels.
Pun also pointed out that this year, for the first time, the organisers launched a bundle discount – get 30 percent off for two tickets – which he thought could attract more spectators to the races.
Meanwhile, on the topic of COVID-19 jabs, Ao Ieong said that she was still checking with the Health Bureau (SSM) whether she was eligible to have the COVID-19 booster shot already in the current first phase of the third-jab drive. She underlined that she was looking forward to having her third COVID-19 shot.
Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Elsie Ao Ieong U talks to reporters yesterday on the sidelines of the traditional blessing ceremony outside the Grand Prix Building in Zape. Photo: Prisca Tang
