Macau Chief Executive Ho Iat-seng said on Saturday that the city will hopefully be able to receive mainland tour groups again from November.

At a press conference, he said he made the request because mainland visitors are very important to the local economy, adding central authorities had approved it.

Ho said tour groups from Guangdong, Fujian, Zhejiang and Jiangsu and Shanghai will be able to come first, adding the initial target is to receive around 40,000 visitors a day – which is half of the capacity prior to the Covid pandemic.

When asked about Hong Kong’s decision to scrap hotel quarantine requirements for inbound travellers, he said he would not comment on Hong Kong’s decision, saying that Macau's border infection-control measures must be consistent with the mainland, adding it doesn't have the authority to relax them.

At present, inbound travellers to Macau and the mainland – including those from Hong Kong – have to undergo seven days of hotel quarantine followed by three days of health monitoring.