The Macau Metro Monitor, March 30, 2011
TOURISM SECTOR PERFORMANCE FOR FEBRUARY 2011
S'pore international visitor arrivals rose 15.4% YoY to 990,000 in Feb 2011. Indonesia (177,000), PR China (150,000), Malaysia (82,000), Japan (58,000), and Australia (58,000) were the top 5 visitor groups. Hong Kong (+53%), Philippines, (+48%) and Japan (+43%) registered the highest growth out of the top 15 markets.
MACAU-RUSSIA VISA EXEMPTION AGREEMENT ALMOST A DONE DEAL macaubusiness.com
Macau and Russia are close to a visa exemption agreement. A final draft version of the agreement has already been drawn up and the signing ceremony is expected to be held within this year.
SHELDON ADELSON TAKES AN ILL-ADVISED SWIPE AT HIS TORMENTOR, STEVE JACOBS Intelligence Macau
Sheldon, being himself, couldn't help making some public comments at the JPM conference regarding the ongoing investigations against LVS and the Jacobs allegations. While there is nothing really new in what was said, it was entertaining nonetheless. Our favorite quotes include:
- "It's not a serious case... It is pure threatening, blackmailing and extortion. That is what it is all about”
- “When the smoke clears, I am 1,000 percent positive that there won’t be any fire below it. What they [investigators] will find is a foundation of lies and fabrications that were designed for the sole purpose of trying to make a settlement for a lot more money than what he felt he was entitled to.”
- “One of the reasons why we fired him [was because] we told him not to get involved with direct premium players the way he wanted to. He kicked off all the junket reps. Now, we have to build back the relationship... Our policy is that the junket reps own Macau"
