Visitors increase by 10pc during golden week’ Number of international visitor sees strong 50pc increase

Macau welcomed 645,513 visitors during the China National Day golden week (September 29 to October 5), a 10.01 per cent increase compared to the same period (1 October to 7 October) of last year. Among the total of visitors, 63 per cent, or more than 410 thousand people, came from Mainland China, 6.46 per cent more than the same period in 2007, according to figures of the Public Security Police Force. On the other hand, the number of international visitors saw a strong increase of 50 per cent during golden week, amounting to a 10.21 per cent share of the total. Both the average occupancy rate and hotel room rate have also slightly decreased. According with figures provided by Macau hotels, the occupancy rate of three to five star hotels was 81.7 per cent, a slightly decrease of 3.61 percentage point compared to the golden week last year. During the golden week this year, Macau counted a total of 16,363 available hotel rooms, comparing with the number of last year, there was an increase of 1,776 rooms. At the same time, the average of total occupied rooms were 13,437 with a growth of 8.2 percent, showing more tourists stayed overnight in hotels during that period. The hotel room rate of three to five stars hotels was 1,062.36 patacas, a small decrease of 2.64 percent compared to last year. Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO), the Guangdong Provincial Tourism Administration and the Fujian Tourism Administration activated from September 25 the Golden Week notification system. The channel of communication remains in force until today, October 6. MGTO asked tourism operators to make more use of the border gate at Cotai (Ponte Flor de Lótus) as a gateway to entry and exit Macau in order to disperse tourists. Urban public bus companies were also asked to send more vehicles to the routes passing by Ponte Flor de Lótus Bridge. During the golden week period MGTO inspectors intensified surveillance at Macau’s most visited sites. MGTO is also distributing the brochure "Enjoy Macau", reminding Mainland tourists on matters to pay attention to when visiting the city. MGTO’s Information Counters and the Tourist Hotline (28333000) functioned as usual during the holiday period.