Chinese tourists push Macau numbers up

MACAU – As reported by the Australian: "The rapid influx of tourists from China pushed gaming revenue in Macau to $US6.4 billion ($8.2 billion) in the first 11 months of 2006, according to international credit rating agency Standard & Poor's.

"S&P said it expected cumulative gaming revenue to have overtaken the Las Vegas Strip in 2006 and to possibly top $US10 billion by 2010.

"The momentum presaged good fortunes for James Packer's joint venture Melco PBL Entertainment (Macau), which is expected to open its first casino, the Crown Macau, around April.

"In its research paper, 'A High-Stakes Gamble for Macau's Red-Hot Casino Operators', the agency said visitor arrivals in Macau climbed 16 per cent to 19.8 million from January to November last year…"

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