Macau is desperate for tourists, and it needs them more from neighboring China and Hong Kong than anywhere else. These two sources of visitors make up the bulk of Macau gambling tourists to the Special Administrative Region, but ongoing negotiations about a travel bubble between the three regions, which would be great for Macau, is possibly leaving it out of the loop.

Hong Kong’s attempt to create a travel bubble spurred rumors recently that Macau would not be part of the deal. The Chinese province of Guangdong is expected to figure into the quarantine zone Hong Kong is looking to create, but local media quoted Chief Executive Carrie Lam as saying there would be “technical issues” blocking Macau from the group.

If the deal pushes through, the governments of each region would mutually recognize COVID-19 test results conducted by local testing facilities. To be allowed to travel within the bubble, a visitor would not be allowed to have left the bubble for the last 14 days.

Lam later dismissed suggestions that the bubble would open without Macau, offering that she has spoken with Macau Chief Executive Ho Iat-seng about involving the region. Hong Kong’s Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan added: