The coronavirus has had a significant impact on Macau. With gaming revenues plummeting in February, everyone has to be wondering when the territory’s luck will change.

Right now, everything depends on when travel restrictions are lifted. This, of course, depends upon how quickly the Chinese government is able to slow down the spread of the Covid-19 outbreak. But even with that, it may take some time before tourists are comfortable in taveling again. Analysts are now suggesting it may not be until later in 2020 that confidence returns.

“Assuming the epidemic peaks in the next two months, we might see a recovery in Q3/4,“ IGamiX Management & Consulting’s Ben Lee told the Macau News Agency. “The underlying manufacturing sector in Guangdong province is fragile and will need to recover before we can start to see the players returning to play over more.”

Others point out that it will be the degree of tourism and transportation that is the biggest indicator of success. Once people feel more comfortable about returning to Macau, and with traveling in general, then there should be a dramatic upswing in revenue. Sanford C. Bernstein predicted a “solid recovery in Macau,” driven by pent up demand.