Macao logged 2.27 million visitor arrivals in September, 145,000 more than Hong Kong's registered number in the month, local media reported Tuesday.

Macao Daily News, the leading local Chinese-language newspaper, quoted analysts as saying that the overall visitor statistics for 2007 will possibly see Macao's surpass over Hong Kong.

The newspaper dues the city's strong visitor flow in September mainly to the stimulation produced by the opening of the mega casino-hotel resort Venetian.

However, only 9.1 percent of the visitor arrivals in the month were from foreign countries or regions, according to the newspaper.

High hotel charges and low human resource quality will remain the obstacles for Macao's tourism industry, said the newspaper report.

(Xinhua News Agency November 7, 2007)