MACAU’s inbound visitor numbers hit a new high in 2011, according to the country’s Statistics and Census Service department.
Arrivals during the period January–November 2011 increased by 12.2 per cent year-on-year to nearly 25.4 million, eclipsing the 24.9 million recorded for the whole of 2010.
Mainland Chinese visitors (14.6 million) accounted for more than half the total, a 22 per cent jump over the same period last year. Also on the rise were arrivals from Hong Kong (6.9 million) and South Korea (360,000), up by 1.9 per cent and 20.9 per cent respectively.
In contrast, visitors from Taiwan (1.1 million) and Japan (355,000) decreased by 4.8 per cent and 5.8 per cent, respectively.
The number of arrivals by land via the Border Gate with Zhuhai in Guangdong province registered an increase of 16.9 per cent to 13.9 million arrivals.
There was also a 10.7 per cent increase in arrivals through the Macao Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal to more than 6 million. However, arrivals through the Taipa Ferry terminal decreased by 0.9 per cent to 3.1 million.
About 1.5 million visitors arrived by air at Macau International Airport, an increase of three per cent over the same period in 2010.
Reporting by Deborah Cornfield
