General Information

Location

Macau, a UNESOC World Heritage Site, is located at the entrance of the Pearl River Delta, 90 miles (144 Kilometres) southeast of Guangzhou and 40 miles (64 kilometres) southwest of Hong Kong. It covers a total area of 29.9 square kilometres, consisting of a mainland peninsula and two islands, Taipa and Coloane with Cotai in between, linked by three modern bridges and a causeway. The territory is connected to mainland China at the Barrier Gate, located at the northern part of the city, as well as via the COTAI Frontier Post linking the reclamation area of Coloane and HengQin.

International Arrivals and Departures

Macau International Airport

Tourists can use the Macau International Airport for travelling to several destinations in the region on direct flights or catch connecting flights to different ports of Asia, Europe or America. The airport is located on Taipa Island and is 15 minutes away from the Macau Ferry Terminal, 20 minutes from the Barrier Gate and only 10 minutes away from the COTAI Frontier Post. It operates 24 hours a day. For detailed information on flight schedules, please visit http://www.macau-airport.com.

Via Hong Kong

Hong Kong has other facilities direct simultaneous from Macau to Hong Kong Chek Lap Kok Airport via the Turbojets service, for more information, visit:
http://www.turbojet.com.hk/en/routing-sailing-schedule/hk-airport-macau/sailing-schedule-fares.aspx

The terminal and heliport are located in Shun Tak Centre, on the waterfront West of Central District on Hong Kong Island. It is above Sheung Wan MTR station (Mass Transit Railway) and next to a terminus for buses and minibuses from many parts of Hong Kong, including the A2 Airbus from the airport. The terminal has passenger wharves and helipad, booking offices for current and advance sailings and flights, reservation offices of Macau hotels and travel agents, a branch of China Travel Service, and a Macau Government Tourist Office Information Counter.

Via China

The Barrier Gate and the COTAI Frontier Post are the two main ways to travel to and forth from China to Macau. There are many buses companies which bring visitors from Guangdong Province to Macau and back.

From Shenzhen airport, the terminal at SheKou can be used to connect between Shenzhen and Macau. Ferries carry passengers from Shenzhen Airport Fu Yong Ferry Terminal or She Kou to Macau in an hour and twenty minutes, for more information, visit: http://www.turbojet.com.hk/eng/schedule/prd_3.asp

If you need more detail informations please reference website
http://www.macautourism.gov.mo/en/info/get2macau.php.

Business Hours

Government offices work five days a week, starting at 9.00 AM and finishing at 5.45 PM (Monday to Thursday) and 5.30 PM (Friday). Lunch break is between 1.00 PM to 2.30 PM. Most private companies work 9.00 AM to 6.00 PM, take an hour and a half and a half lunch break, and occasionally work Saturday mornings. Banks generally open from 9.00 AM to 5.45 PM from Monday to Friday.

Communications


Macao acquires a range of global communication services, such as International Direct Call (IDD), Mobile Phones, Fax, Telecommunication, Internet Service and Satellite TV service. IDD service could directly reach 219 countries worldwide.

Customs


There are no restrictions on the amount of money brought in or taken out. Banned from import are firearms, dangerous drugs, endangered animal species and inflammable substances.

Climate

Like Hong Kong, Macao has a tropical climate influenced by the continental climate of central China. It has brief winters when temperatures might drop below 10 degrees, spring (March-April) is humid with alternating hot and cold days, summer is hot (temperatures often above 30 degrees) with plenty of short heavy showers, and autumn (Oct.-Dec.) is the best time of the year, with dry, sunny days and balmy nights.

Clothing

Dress is conservatively casual and suited to the weather. Very few places demand ties and jackets but they are expected at business meetings. Visitors should pack a swimsuit if they intend to stay in a first class hotel, as most of them have pools.

Accommodation

Macao has 29 Five Stars Hotel, in between, 8 of them are rated as Five-stars Deluxe, including Altria, Four Seasons, Grand Lisboa Hotel, Sands etc. Worldwide chain like Sheraton, Westin and Holiday Inn are also available.

Measures

Macao uses metric measurements, although traditional Chinese measures (such as taels of gold, latties' of rice) are still in daily use. Electricity is 220 volts and 50 cycles AC.

Money


The pataca is pegged to the Hong Kong dollar, at approximately the same value and through the Hong Kong dollar to the US dollar. The Hong Kong currency is a second currency in Macao. Roughly eight patacas equal one US dollar. There are no exchange restriction or any limit to the repatriation of profit and capital. Money exchanges are available around the clock, at night in hotel and casinos.

Population and Language


Macau's population stands at 586.3 thousand. Chinese and Portuguese as the main language being widely used. While English is also Macau's third language, it is generally used in trade, tourism and commerce.

Political Background

In 1987 the Sino-Portuguese Joint Declaration on the future of Macau was signed by the People's Republic of China and the Portuguese Government. According to its provisions, China resumed sovereignty over Macau on December 20th, 1999. As a Special Administrative Region of China, Macau enjoys a high degree of autonomy.

Macau retains its political, economic and social system for 50 years, with its own executive, legislative and judicial authorities, at the same time continuing to enjoy all the advantages of free port status as a separate customs territory.

The Chinese government has affirmed its confidence in Macau's future prosperity and stability, which will help guarantee the success of its "One Country, Two Systems" policy.

Taxes

A 5 % government tax is levied on restaurant and hotel bills. Imports are tax-free. However, some products such as tobacco, alcoholic beverages and vehicles are subject to a consumption tax. Complementary (Profit) tax is levied on net profit derived from commercial or industrial business and is a shading-scale tax varying between 2% and 12%. Property tax (10%) or 16%, can be exempted if the property is used for industrial purposes, Stamp duty is a 3% levy on property-transfer transactions. A fixed industrial tax of US$37.5 is imposed annually on all commercial and industrial activities.

Time Difference


Macao is eight hours ahead of GMT, the same as Hong Kong and China. It has no daylight saving time. When it is noon in Macao it is 2PM in Sydney, 4 PM in Auckland, 5 AM in Lisbon, 4 AM in London, 1 AM in Sao Paulo and 11 PM the previous day in New York or 8 PM in Los Angeles.

Tips


It is usually not obligated in paying tips for family restaurants. However, for tourism industries, the general rule would be paying 5% tips after the 10% service charge, it also depends on how generous you are and tips are always welcome.

Transport around Macao

Taxis are cheap and plentiful (but be sure to have your destination written in Chinese) and public buses (fares are 3-6 patacas) cover most of the territory. There are cars and mini-mokes (jeep like runabouts) for hire. Also for leisurely rides you can take a pedicab.

 

 

Visas

All visitors must hold a passport or a valid travel document. Please note that the validity of these documents must not be less than 30 days since the day you enter Macau.
If travel arrangements are made through an agent, the visa processing is handled by Macau tour operators.

A. Visas are required by all visitors except
  a) Residents of Macau;
  b) Nationals of Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cape Verde, Croatia, Czech, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominica, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mali, Malta, Mongolia, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovak, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Tanzania and the United Kingdom (6 months) for a stay up to 90 days;
  c) Nationals of Australia, Canada, Chile, India, Indonesia, Kiribati, Liechtenstein, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, Namibia, New Zealand, Philippines, Samoa, Seychelles, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, the United States of America and Uruguay for a stay up to 30 days;
  d) Nationals of China with valid Macau entry/depart documents, including residents of Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and overseas Chinese for a stay of up to 30 days;
  e) The "Hong Kong Identity Card", "Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card" or "Hong Kong Reentry Permit" holders may stay in Macau for a maximum period of one year.
  f) Holders of Diplomatic Passport or "Laissez Passer" issued by the United Nations.
  g) Holders of Consulate/Diplomatic documents issued by the Macau SAR or Hong Kong SAR.
     
B. Visas can be obtained from the Immigration Services through Embassies/Consulates of the PRC and should be used within the validity, the visa is expired after the valid date.
C. Visas are also available on arrival in Macau at the Immigration Services for a period of 30 days.

There are three types:
Individual MOP$100, for individual traveller for a single stay of up to 30 days in Macau, children under 12 years of age pay MOP$50.
Family MOP$200 for couples, husband travelling with wife and or children (under 12 years of age) of same surname or on proof of their relationship.
Group MOP$50 per person for bonafide groups of 10 or more and children aged 12 or under.

For further information, please call (853) 2872 5488 or visit the website of Immigration Services: www.fsm.gov.mo
For those who want to travel to mainland China, visas may be obtained at any of the China Travel Service (CTS) offices counters in Macau (the main branch is located at Rua de Nagazaki, 35 – tel.853-2870 0888) or at the Gongbei Immigration and Customs (after the Border Gate).

 

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