The Macau Metro Monitor, May 29, 2013
EASIER ENTRY VISAS TO TAIWAN IN AUGUST Macau Business
The Taiwan government announced that it will be easier for visitors from Macau to get a multiple entry visa. The policy may be implemented in August. Those measures include a plan to “loosen visa procedures for mainland, Hong Kong and Macau travellers to allow multiple entry” visas, the government’s statement says.
Currently, Macau citizens are able to apply online free of charge for Taiwan visas. If the request is accepted, all tourists will have to do is print out the visa agreement. The entry permit will be valid for three months and will allow visitors to stay on the island for a month.
CASINO AIR TEST DOESN'T COVER VIP ROOMS: GOV'T ACCUSED OF BEING "SOFT" ON CASINOS IN SMOKING BAN Macau Daily Times, Macau Business
Trade unions blamed the government for being too lenient towards casinos in the enforcement of partial smoking bans in all gaming venues. Representatives of casino staff unions said nearly half a year after the tobacco control law came into effect, the government is yet to conduct air quality tests on VIP rooms where tobacco smoke is most dense and the authority has also failed to take legal action against gaming facilities that cannot meet ventilation requirements.
The Health Bureau conducted a second check on the casinos that failed to meet the requirements in the first test last month. A total of 28 out of the city’s 46 gaming venues – including slot parlours - or 63.6% of the total, had air quality issues.
UNIVERSAL SAYS ROBINSONS TALKS ON CASINO PUT ON HOLD Bloomberg
Universal Entertainment Corp. said talks with Philippine billionaire John Gokongwei’s Robinsons Land Corp to jointly build a casino in Manila were put on hold. Robinsons Land, the Manila-based developer, said in December that it had signed a preliminary agreement with Universal for the project.
Universal will consider developing a casino in the Philippines on its own or with other partners. Universal boss Okada faces a U.S. criminal investigation related to his Philippine casino project, with the U.S. asking to intervene in a lawsuit by WYNN accusing Okada of making improper payments to Philippine gambling regulators.
