As Macao keeps a closer tie with mainland, more and more people travel from Macao to the mainland. From January to August, about 17 million people visited the mainland from Macao, up 24 percent than last year. Meanwhile, Macao people spent a total of 16 billion yuan (US$1.97 billion)  in the mainland, up 25 percent.

Information from Guangdong Tourism Bureau showed that from January to August, about 79 million people paid visit to the mainland, up 12.74 percent. Among them, 17 million are from Macao.

Meanwhile, the number of tourists who stayed overnight in the mainland reached 30 million, up 15 per cent. Among them, foreigners accounted for 10 million, increasing 26 percent. Hong Kong compatriots accounted for 14 million, up 6 per cent. Macao and Taiwan compatriots accounted for 2.85 million and 2.42 million each, up 25 percent and 16 percent respectively.  

(Chinanews.cn September 30, 2005)