Inside Asian Gaming

IAG FEB 2023年2月 亞博匯 54 COLUMNISTS I f nothing else, the commitment by Macau’s casino concessionaires to invest US$13.5 billion over 10 years in the development of non-gaming attractions demonstrates that they, and their financiers, collectively possess both a high pain threshold and unshakeable faith in the restoration of gaming revenue to at least its immediate pre-COVID level. It does not, however, speak to their confidence in the execution of successful non- gaming investment strategies. To credibly do so would require not just an awareness of the enablers of such strategies, but also an expectation that the SAR government will share some of the heavy lifting needed to assure success. So, what are the key enablers, and what should the government be considering to see them facilitate, rather than frustrate, the outcomes sought? CONNECTIVITY What is common to the 10 project areas identified for investment is their reliance upon visitation from sources beyond the PRC. Currently Macau has relatively few direct flights from major potential feeder Air Macau remains the SAR’s exclusive concession holder. 澳門航空獲澳門政府延長專營合約。 單 單是澳門娛樂場牌 照承批人要在未來 10年投資135億美 元發展非博彩觀光 熱點的這個承諾， 就足夠顯示出這些公司及其背後的投資 者，對於能夠讓賭收回到最少是疫情開 始前那段時間的水平，所甘願作出的忍 耐和對成功的那份無可動搖的信心。 可是，對於是否能夠成功地實行自 己的非博彩投資策略，他們卻未能懷有 同等的信念。要真正讓人相信此事將能 成就，不只需要對於能夠讓這些策略得 以實施的各項「推手」有所認識，更需 要預期特區政府將會在關鍵時刻出手幫 助。那麼，這些重要的推手到底包括甚 麼？而政府又應該如何考慮去推動這些 他們希望最終能夠實現的結果，而非令 路途變得更加艱鉅？