The Macau Metro Monitor, September 22nd 2010
COTAI: SJM EXPECTS REPLY ON LAND APPLICATION THIS YEAR Macau Daily TImes
CEO So believes he will receive a response from the Government regarding its two plots on Cotai by the end of 2010. “We hope to have a larger space for development... SJM has the least exposure in Cotai so we’ve expressed that if there is other land available [Sands China parcels 7 and 8] we’ll be interested in it,” So said. “I think any organizations or concessionaires can express their interest and there is nothing wrong with it,” So added. Meanwhile, So denied there are any plans to cooperate with Macao Studio City or any of the other five gaming operators to jointly develop the Cotai Strip.
So also said 4Q GGR will not grow as much as in the first nine months of this year. “For the whole year of 2010, I expect there will be an increase of around 40%,” So said. In addition, he urged the Government to give a clearer idea about the allocation of imported labour quotas so that the gaming operators can prepare their human resources development plan accordingly. So also suggested pegging the Pataca with the Yuan to ease inflation pressures.
UNITED STATES FOLLOWING UP ON LABOUR RESTRICTIONS IN MACAU macaubusiness.com
The US consul general for Macau and Hong Kong, Stephen Young, says he is optimistic that these policy changes will not damage the interests of US companies operating in Macau. “I’ve been assured by the chief executive and others that the necessary workers that these guys [US-based casino companies operating in Macau] need to do their jobs to both build and run casinos will be available, and it’s an ongoing dialogue that they and I and the government of Macau continue to pursue,” he said.
Mr Young said he has already met CEO Chui and representatives from LVS, WYNN, and MGM. He added he would meet with Sands' new management team today.
VISITOR ARRIVALS FOR AUGUST 2010 DSEC
Total visitor arrivals rose by 14.2% YoY to 2,357,689 in August. Visitors from Mainland China increased by 20.3% YoY to 1,263,442 (53.6% of total visitor arrivals), with 590,271 traveling to Macao under the Individual Visit Scheme, up by 18.2% from August 2009.
CHANGI AIRPORT PASSENGER NUMBERS GROW 9.6% IN AUGUST Channel News Asia
The number of passengers passing though Changi Airport in August rose 9.6% to 3.47 million.