The Macau Metro Monitor. October 27th, 2009
VISITOR ARRIVALS GROW IN SEPTEMBER dsec.gov.mo
The total number of visitor and non-resident arrivals was 2,204,014 in September 2009; visitor arrivals for September 2009 increased by 3.8% year-over-year to 1,689,007.
Analyzed by place of residence, visitors from Mainland China grew by 16.1% year-over-year to 878,479 (52% of total visitor arrivals), with 354,443 travelling to Macau under the Individual Visit Scheme (unchanged year-over-year). Visitors from Japan (44,763) and Indonesia (30,098) rose by 24.8% and 65.5% respectively; however, those from Hong Kong (492,603); Taiwan (96,382) and Malaysia (22,714) decreased by 9.6%, 6.4% and 29.1%. Same-day visitors (851,758) accounted for 50.4% of the total visitor arrivals, with 446,735 coming from Mainland China.
MGM EXEC DISMISSES CONCERNS OVER MACAU VISA RESTRICTIONS gamingtoday.com
Grant Bowie, President of MGM Grand Paradise Limited, said that he is not concerned by visa restrictions being imposed by Beijing in Guangdong. He was quoted as saying, “Macau has a very fortunate and experienced industry. So we are in a much stronger position than anywhere else of the world. We should feel quite comfortable with that… [The territory] is very flexible and dynamic, and we’ll be able to respond to this issue (visa restrictions). It is a matter we can manage on a day-to-day basis. We will work positively to operate within the situation we have available to us."