The Macau Metro Monitor, September 1st 2010
MONTHLY GROSS REVENUE FROM GAMES OF FORTUNE DICJ
Macau’s casino gross gaming revenue reached MOP15.773 billion (~US$1.97 billion) in August, up 40% YoY.
SUMMER HOTEL OCCUPANCY UP TO 85% Macau Daily News
In August, Macau hotel occupancy reached as high as 85% and room rates were up 15-20% YoY. Industry experts believe a variety of festivals and events later this year including Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day of Golden Week may keep occupancy around 85%. Meanwhile, there is a labor shortage in the hospitality industry as many hotels employees were put on extra shifts to meet the growing demand.
FIRST TRANSPORT HUB OPERATIONAL IN 2014 Intelligence Macau, Macau Daily Times
In 2014, Macau will open its first integrated transport hub comprising of bus stops, taxi, light rail stations, parking space and pedestrian system. The hub will be constructed in front of the Jockey Club in Estrada Governador Albano de Oliveira, Taipa. The SAR Government is planning to spend around MOP 900 million in order to create a “safe and convenient environment” for locals and tourists to change from one transport mode to another. IM believes the hub's location would benefit Galaxy Macau.
TAIWAN EASES HONG KONG AND MACAU VISA PROCESS The China Post, SCMP
HK and Macau residents can apply for a visa to Taiwan for free via the Internet starting today, the National Immigration Agency said. Previously, HK passport holders could either apply for a Taiwan visa on the immigration agency's website and collect it at the airport before boarding, or obtain a 30-day visa on arrival for HK$75. To be eligible for the visa, travellers must be Hong Kong- or Macau-born or have visited Taiwan before. The visa will be valid for 90 days, with a maximum stay of 30 days.
CHINESE TOURISTS FLOCKING TO JAPAN IN RECORD NUMBERS SINCE VISA RESTRICTIONS RELAXED The Yomiuri Shimbun
A spike in the number of Chinese tourists due to relaxed visa restrictions helped push up the total number of travelers to Japan in July by 39% YoY to a record 880,000. There were 170,000 visitors from China--2.4 times more than the same month last year.