New tourist record in Lunar New Year

Almost 900,000 tourists arrived in the territory during the Chinese New Year holidays, from January 21 to 28, the Public Security Police’s immigration department announced yesterday.
This figure shows a 2.1 percent rise from the New Year holidays last year and sets a new record high. However, in 2011, this period started on a Thursday and as such was a day shorter, going from February 2 to 8.
During the eight days about 1.36 million crossed Macau’s borders, with most of them (about 912,000) using the Border Gate, followed at a big distance by the Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal (almost 252,000).
The two last days of the holiday period, January 27 and 28, were also the peak at the MSAR borders. Almost 207,000 people crossed into Macau on Saturday, up from more than 204,000 on the previous day.
The Chinese New Year was expected to boost the gaming industry to a new monthly revenue record. And so far the period has brought good news for local casinos.
For instance, gaming operator Sands China said visitors to its Macau casinos grew by 5 percent to 6 percent to more than one million during the weeklong holiday. The Venetian casino drew 750,000 visits, Sands had 160,000 and the Plaza Macao had 150,000, a spokeswoman told Bloomberg.