Macao SAR chief executive vows to boost tourism, gaming industry

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 ◆ Macao SAR chief executive vows to boost tourism, gaming industry

Chief Executive Edmund Ho Hau Wah of China's Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) said recently that the Macao SAR will make greater efforts in the coming year to cement the role of tourism and gambling industry as the engine for Macao's economy.

"Tourism and gaming industry is the sector that we will focus on in the near-term development," he said in the policy address for 2003.

Edmund Ho told local officials and legislators at the Macao Legislative Assembly that the SAR government should take advantage of the existing opportunities to upgrade the gaming industry and improve service. "We should amplify necessary rules and regulations, strengthen supervision and train talents in an effort to make the gaming industry more competitive."

The chief executive called for more efficient tourism promotions and regional cooperation in the tourism sector.

He said the government will revise relevant ordinance and carryout the rules in a more strict manner.

According to statistics, tourist arrivals in the SAR jumped a year-on-year 10.6 percent to 9.46 million from January to October, buoyed by huge influx of China's inlanders.

The number of tourists to Macao hit a record of more than 10 million last year and the figure for this year is set to be even larger in line with estimates from local officials and market watchers.