The Macau Metro Monitor, December 31, 2012
S'PORE ECONOMY GROWS 1.2%: PM LEE Channel News Asia
According to Prime Minister Lee, Singapore's economy grew 1.2% in 2012, missing estimates of 1.5%. This implies a contraction in 4Q, which would result in a technical recession since Q3 also fell QoQ. 2013 GDP projection is 1-3%. Official 2012 GDP will be released on Wednesday.
CASINO SMOKING BAN STARTS TOMORROW Macau Business
The partial ban on smoking inside casinos will kick in at midnight tonight. Government health inspectors will patrol the gaming areas to make sure the ban is being enforced. If someone is found smoking in a non-smoking area inside a casino, they could face a maximum on-the-spot fine of MOP400 (US$50).
27 INJURED AS JETFOIL HEADING TO HK HITS BUOY Macau Daily Times
Twenty-seven people were injured on Saturday when a Hong Kong-bound jetfoil hit a signal buoy near Macau’s Outer Harbor. The 183 passengers and crew members all escaped without serious injuries.
Ferry operator TurbotJet said jetfoils do deviate from course occasionally, and would follow up claims by individual passengers that some seat belts were out of order. The company said the head of the ferry suffered slight damage and that one of its underwater wings had fallen into the sea. The authorities are examining the records of the ferry’s course and operation to determine the real cause of the collision. The waterway near Outer Harbor was closed for approximately one hour for rescue on Saturday, and another short interval on Sunday to retrieve the ship’s sunken wing, and to replace the buoy damaged in the collision.
RECORD 50M PASSENGERS PASS CHANGI AIRPORT GATES THIS YEAR AsiaOne
Changi Airport has crossed the 50 million passenger milestone this year, just two years after hitting the 40 million mark, as low-cost carriers and intra-Asia travel continue to boost passenger numbers.
From January to November, Changi Airport handled 46.3 million passengers, on par with the 46.5 million passengers for the whole of 2011, thanks partly to strong double-digit growth in travel to and from Northeast Asia and South Asia.
Indonesia is Changi's top market. Its 6.2 million passengers between January and November, up 8.6% YoY, accounted for 13.4% of total traffic handled at the airport. Changi is expanding to cater to the rising number of travelers walking through its gates, with the Budget Terminal being revamped to reopen as Terminal 4 in 2017, raising Changi's passenger-handling capacity to 85 million passengers per year.
