The Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO) has announced that Law No.3/2022, which amended Law No.3/2010, on the “Prohibition of Providing Illegal Accommodation”, has been in effect since Friday.
The government-initiated law was recently passed by the legislature.
The law redefines illegal accommodation and specifies that except for those holding a special authorisation to stay, non-residents who are allowed to stay for no longer than 90 days upon entering Macau can only stay in “legally-operated hotel establishments in principle, including hotels, apartment hotels and economical [budget] accommodation establishments”.
The statement underlined that any individual or entity without a hotel business licence that accommodates visitors in premises or individual apartments “that are not classified to function as hotel establishments, such as residential and commercial properties as well as industrial buildings” is considered an illegal accommodation provider.
However, the statement noted that there are exceptions from the rule under the following circumstances:
“1) religious organisations, non-profit legal persons or organisations and higher education institutions offering accommodation because of religious, charitable, sport, cultural or academic activities. For instance, higher education institutions receiving guests at their dormitories;
“2) lodging providers acquainted with lodgers before their stay through their kinship, work, academic or other private relationships, because of which lodgers are also accommodated for free, e.g., providing accommodation for relatives”.
Moreover, the law “mandates specific cooperation obligations of accommodation-booking businesses such as online platforms for hotel reservation”, using the example of having to provide relevant documents. The new law includes fines of between 20,000 and 100,000 patacas for aiding and abetting the provision of illegal accommodation.
The statement also pointed out that if property owners report the illegal accommodation activities to MGTO before the start of investigations into the irregularity and themselves are not involved in providing illegal accommodation, MGTO may not impose sanctions such as sealing the property, or shorten the sanctions’ implementation period.
Meanwhile, MGTO and the Legal Affairs Bureau (DSAJ) also launched a promotional campaign through various channels such as using local radio and TV advertisements, and brochures before the new law came into effect. Promotional videos have also been released on social media platforms including WeChat, Douyin and YouTube.
MGTO, DSAJ and the Housing Bureau (IHM) will also co-host a themed seminar to explain the key clauses and familiarise the public and concerned parties with the new law, the statement said. The statement did not say when the seminar will be held.
Suspected cases of illegal accommodation can be reported to MGTO’s 24-hour Tourism Hotline on 2833 3000, while one can also visit https://www.dsaj.gov.mo/other/ppia/ to learn more about the new law.
This infographic provided by the Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO) on Friday promotes the updated law and its highlights.
