Southbound, how and when

Macau will be watching closely how things unfold in Hong Kong before opening the doors to the Southbound Travel Scheme

Macau Business magazine l January 2026 | Special Report | Northbound Fever

If Hong Kong had to wait a few months to see how Macau adapted to the implementation of the Northbound Travel Scheme (NTS), the reciprocal situation is the opposite: Hong Kong already has it, but Macau will continue to wait – and, at this stage, the implementation date of the Southbound Travel Scheme (STS) in the SAR is not even known.

The authorities in Guangdong would like the adoption of the mechanism to be simultaneous or, at least, more immediate, given that reciprocity is expected to promote trade, tourism and related industries in both regions. The MSAR government itself also recognises some advantages in the potential economic boost that, in general, the entry of cars with Chinese licence plates could bring, but there are constraints.

The Hong Kong authorities negotiated a very smooth start, with a small quota of licence plates (100 per day) and the obligation to use the Airport Authority Hong Kong’s new “Park & Fly” automated car park, for around 1,800 vehicles, on the artificial island of the Hong Kong Port, with a maximum of three days, and only for vehicles from Guangzhou, Zhuhai, Zhongshan and Jiangmen – after six months the situation will be reviewed.

Designated drivers must hold valid Hong Kong driving licences, while vehicles must pass Hong Kong inspections and secure third‑party risk insurance. The car park connects with public transport in Hong Kong, such as the Airport Express and shuttle buses to central Hong Kong.

Problems with traffic

In Macau, where traffic is more complicated and the streets less capable of absorbing extra vehicles, the introduction will be at least as cautious.

As a sign of this caution, Zhuhai residents have had easier access to Macau for the past year. Previously, they could only enter once every two months, requiring a visa for that purpose. Now, they can apply for a visa that allows them to enter Macau once a week, with each stay limited to a maximum of seven days and the visa valid for one year (without a car, of course).

Even without STS, the numbers are impressive: mainland authorities issued 353,000 visas to Zhuhai residents in the first nine months of 2025, allowing weekly trips to Macau. Imagine when there is some kind of reciprocity (since it will hardly be equivalent).

One thing the NTS showed is that people spend more if they can take their car to the shopping centre or the supermarket; if they have to walk with bags, take buses or taxis to reach cars parked far away, part of that consumerist desire is lost due to a lack of attractiveness.

So Macau finds itself in a dilemma: for the scheme to have a real impact on the economy, it has to authorise a significant number of cars to circulate with minimal restrictions in the city (not just 100 a day…); but if this happens, the quality of life of the local population will deteriorate and opposition to the measure will increase.

The solution would involve the creation of car parks, already within the city, where the beneficiaries of the STS would be required to park, and from where they could then use the light rail or walk. If these parks were located in residential areas, tourists coming from the north could boost local commerce, but it is more likely that many would still prefer to head for the traditional tourist areas or Cotai.

A ‘Cross-border Consumption Voucher 2.0’ targeting mainland tourists

All these difficulties help to explain the silence of the Macau authorities: one year ago, a member of the Guangdong Provincial Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference in Macau pointed out that STS to Macau will become a trend, and that the government must make the necessary preparations. But the government has never really “answered” these questions.

Macau’s geomorphological characteristics are simply not conducive to opening the borders to many more cars. And if the number allowed in is small, the effects will be merely symbolic.

Kevin Ho, the Vice-President of the Board of Directors of the Macau Commercial Association and President of the Macau Industrial and Commercial Association, believes that with “in-depth visits to Macau by self-driving, their [Guangdong tourists] footprints will no longer be limited to traditional tourist hotspots or large resorts, but will tend to explore Macau’s residential communities, seeking authentic cuisine, unique cultural and creative shops, and different life experiences.”

“This precisely brings unprecedented, targeted customer sources and development space for micro, small and medium enterprises in our communities,” states the new MP to Macau Business.

Ho would like to propose “a positive suggestion”: the SAR Government should actively study restarting and optimising the “Cross-border Consumption Voucher” scheme, which we could call “Cross-border Consumption Voucher 2.0.”

Research data from 2020 showed that during the scheme’s implementation period, “offline consumption amounts for cross-border payments on that e-wallet (WeChat, Alipay…) surged five-fold, greatly boosting the retail and catering sectors in Macau.” So, when STS is working, bringing large numbers of potential quality customers, “if we could launch ‘Cross-border Consumption Voucher 2.0,’ precisely targeting mainland tourists visiting Macau and directing them to various SMEs in communities, this could substantially increase per capita consumption amounts, representing a strategic move to address current challenges, empower SMEs, and promote appropriate economic diversification.”

“[Guangdong tourists] will tend to explore Macau’s residential communities, seeking authentic cuisine, unique cultural and creative shops, and different life experiences” – Kevin Ho

More cars from HK

The Macau government’s caution regarding increased traffic entering the city did not begin with the creation of the STS.

Since the HZMB bridge began accepting private passenger vehicles, there have been repeated calls for higher quotas for cars with Hong Kong licence plates.

A few months ago, the member of the National People’s Congress for Macau, Lao Ngai Leong, revisited the issue, arguing that these tourists could help compensate SMEs for the revenue losses generated by the NTS.

The businessman also stated that vehicles from Guangdong entering Macau via the STS could travel closer to urban Macau, visit the territory and increase the business volume of SMEs.

Regarding the difficulties faced by SMEs in community neighbourhoods, Lao Ngai Leong argued that the government must create more attractions in those areas and provide greater support to local businesses to help them overcome this difficult period.

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