LAST WORD 54
As Asia ventures out of zero-Covid world, China looks isolated Sharon Singleton
Managing Editor, AGB
As we approach the two-year anniversary of the beginning of the global Covid pandemic, governments around Asia are finally beginning to take tentative steps to open their borders.
A
s vaccination rates have risen, even the most safely reopen to international visitors. This will be die-hard zero Covid administrations have music to the ears of operators in the countries where realized that borders can’t remain closed locals are not permitted to gamble. However, in all of this picture there remains one forever. The rise of the more contagious Delta variant has also helped to crystallize views that the virus is key standout and that is the Greater China region. something we will have to learn to live with and manage. Beijing is steadfastly maintaining its draconian zeroThailand, whose vaccination rate is still relatively Covid policies. Entire cities are repeatedly being locked down, while low in the context of some of its neighbours such as Cambodia, has perhaps taken the boldest steps. It has Shanghai Disneyland was shut and 34,000 visitors tested thrown its doors open to fully vaccinated travellers due to the discovery of just one case. That’s despite from more than 60 countries where the Covid risk is the fact that China has a relatively solid vaccination rate of about 81 percent of its population, according deemed to be low. They will now only have to remain one night in a to Reuters data. Hong Kong, a global financial hub heavily dependent government-mandated hotel while they wait for the on international trade, has gone backwards in recent results of Covid tests. Vaccinated travellers from countries not on the safe weeks, tightening its already stringent 21-day mandatory hotel quarantine to close loopholes list are still able to travel, but only for certain categories of workers. to areas designated as blue zones, It has argued that this was a where they will have to quarantine necessary step to be able to fully for seven days before moving to Beijing is open the border with Mainland other areas of the country. The zones China. Macau is still closed to include the islands of Phuket and steadfastly nearly all international visitors Koh Samui, as well as the capital maintaining its apart from those from China. Bangkok, where vaccinations are Local outbreaks in Macau more advanced. draconian zeroin August and September lead Thailand’s economy relies on Covid policies. to immediate lockdowns and tourism for about 18 percent of restrictions on travel, while a its gross domestic product and talked about reopening with Hong 18 months of isolation from the Kong no longer seems to be on the outside world is taking a heavy toll. Elsewhere, Vietnam is beginning reopening to horizon. Macau residents can visit their neighbour, but vaccinated travellers. From November, travellers will be would have to quarantine on return. The toll this is taking on Macau’s recovery is painful. able to venture to five provinces including Kien Giang, Khanh Hoa, Quang Nam, Da Nang, and Quang Ninh. October was the worst month this year in terms of Phu Quoc island is in Kien Giang province and is gross gambling revenue, with the rebound being much home to the Corona Resort & Casino, while Quang slower and more protracted than anyone anticipated. Visitor arrivals came back in the final few weeks of Nam is home to Hoi An, in which Suncity’s Hoiana the month as restrictions were lifted, but with China resort and casino is located. Singapore has vaccination lanes for vaccinated battling multiple clusters the situation is precarious. Some commentators are beginning to question why travellers from low-risk countries and has begun welcoming arrivals from Europe for the first time in China continues with its zero-Covid policy while the rest of the world is reopening, with concern politics one and a half years. Japan is cutting back quarantine for business travellers may be creeping into the process. Beijing is scheduled to hold the winter Olympics to three days, while Malaysia has pointed to a likely border opening in December once its own population early next year and China doesn’t want any delays or disruptions. As a result, some commentators see it as reaches a 90 percent vaccination rate. In fact, there are very few countries in the region, unlikely that the policy will be abandoned until at least which aren’t actively talking and planning on how to after that date.
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Asia Gaming Briefings | November 2021
