First Half of This Year Saw Over Four Million Tourists Visit MacauAccording to the statistics of department concerned, the tourism industry in Macau regained its peak with visitors reaching more than 4.36 million in the first half of this year.In 1996, Macau received 8.15 million tourists, the record year in history. This year, the tourism is expected to break the record of 1996, setting another new record if it develops as did in the first half of the year. The social order and security in Macau have apparently taken a turn for the better since its return to the motherland. Availing itself of the advantage of the returning, the government of the Macau SAR has strengthened its efforts in promoting itself and putting the environment for tourism in order, thereby creating a favorable condition for the brisk growth of tourism in Macau. Among the four million and more tourists hosted in the first half of this year, those from Hong Kong accounted for 54%, numbering more than 2.35 million people; those from China's inland increased greatly, reaching over 1.1 million which accounted for 70% of the total number of last year. Tourists from Taiwan constituted 0.58 million, making up 60% of all those of last year. The growth of tourism brought about the booming of other industries in Macau. Statistics showed the average consumption of a tourist in Macau last year reached 1373 Patacas (Macau dollars) and the sum total from tourism came to more than 10 billion Macau dollars. This year will see the figure to increase. |
| People's Daily Online --- http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/ |