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Macao welcomed the long-awaited tourists from the Chinese mainland as the central government had scrapped the three-year restrictive pandemic measures. The Ministry of Culture and Tourism announced to further lift of travel restrictions between the Chinese mainland and the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions. The first travel group from the mainland arrived in Macao through the Hengqin port in the early morning, a port between Macao and Zhuhai, south China's Guangdong Province. A brief welcome ceremony was held for the first tour group of 27 tourists at the port. Macao officials in attendance said they have full confidence in the recovery of the tourism industry, in what is expected to be a strong boost for the two regions' economic development.