Record numbers of Brits visit Macau
Macau is targeting a record 25 million visitors in 2007 following on from a successful figure of 22 million in 2006.The Macau Government Tourist Office in the UK has already increased its UK visitor figures by 30.81% on 2006 in the first quarter of 2007 which saw a total of 23,428 visitors. The total number of British visitors in 2006 was 57,106, an increase of 15.69%.
In the last few years the region has seen major corporate investment and significant developments which are moulding the destination into a prime location for property, business and leisure travel.
28 August 2007 will see the grand opening of one of the most highly anticipated developments in Asia, The Venetian on the new Cotai StripTM. Leading global hotel brands to be added to the Cotai StripTM over the next three years include the Shangri-la, Traders, Sheraton, St Regis, Rafael, Four Seasons, Starwood Resorts and Hilton.
As well as boasting world class hotels the Cotai StripTM will also feature the highly anticipated City of Dreams, an underwater casino complex due for completion in 2008 and will also bring a leading television and production facility to the region with Macau Studio City, which will combine studios within a multi-million dollar resort offering entertainment, gaming and leisure facilities as well as the Ritz Carlton hotel with an estimated 256 rooms and the Macau Studio City Marriott Hotel with a further 968 rooms.
The peninsula’s next big attraction in 2008 will be the MGM Grand Resort, an entertainment and hotel complex from American casino giants MGM Mirage. Located with a prime position on Macau’s waterfront, the 28 floors, coated with a gold and silver curving glass exterior will consist of 600 suites accompanied by one of Macau’s largest casino floors, a theatre, nightclub, spa, and convention centre and is set to make its mark as one of Macau’s leading resorts.
2009 will also see the completion of the Grand Hyatt which estimates to offer 988 rooms within its world class complex. To add to the Galaxy StarWorld on Macau peninsula, Galaxy Entertainment group will further its portfolio near the Cotai StripTM with the Macau Galaxy Mega Resort a deluxe hotel resort with themed casino and entertainment centre.
Major projects including an expansion of Macau’s International Airport, the re-opening of a second land border gate to mainland China over the Lotus Bridge and plans for a ferry terminal and border gate near the Cotai StripTM are accompanying the influx of new developments in readiness for the expected boom in tourism that these projects are set to bring.