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Macau tourism sees brisk growth
By Xue Gao (HK Edition)

Macau's tourism industry registered a brisk growth in the first five months of the year, as the city is transforming itself from a gaming center to a tourist destination.

From January to May, 10.7 million tourists visited Macau, an increase of 21.5 percent year-on-year, said Joao Manuel Costa Antunes, director of Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) at the opening ceremony of MGTO's annual marketing meeting at the Macau Fisherman's Wharf Convention and Exhibition Center yesterday.

The overnight stay, an important indicator reflecting a tourist destination's attraction, totalled 5.1 million, or 47.5 percent of total visitors, Antunes said.

The mainlanders remain the major tourists visiting the enclave, followed by visitors from Hong Kong and Taiwan.

With more direct flights to Macau, Malaysia is now the fourth largest inbound market.

This will also hel0p more Southeast Asian tourists to visit Macau. Visitors from the region jumped by 68.3 percent in the first five months.

Strong tourist inflow gave a boost to the hotel sector.

Till May, Macau has 84 hotels and guesthouses with more than 13,000 rooms, increasing 10 percent year-on-year.

The average occupancy rate was 77.3 percent in 2006.

More hotels are expected to be operational in the second half of the year.

The achievements were partly because of MGTO's efforts to promote the enclave as a comprehensive tourist destination.

With "Experience Macau" as the theme of its campaign, MGTO has been promoting the city at various travel fairs, Antunes said.

(HK Edition 06/26/2007 page6)