Despite the rampant severe accute respiration syndrome (SARS) situation in the first half of 2003, Macao registered a record number of tourist arrivals last year, hitting 11.89 million, up 3 percent over the previous year.

Due to Mainland's facilitated individual travel (FIT) policy on Hong Kong and Macao-bounded tours that came into effect in late July of 2003, the total number of tourists of traveling group declined 27 percent as compared with 2002.

According to a news release issued here on Thursday by the Statistic and Census Services of the Macao Special Administrative Region, the average expenditure of tourists in Macao in 2003 is 1,518 patacas (US$190), up 4 percent over 2002.

It also shows that the expenditure of tourists from China's mainland is the highest among all travelers to Macao, reaching 2,847 patacas (US$356) last year.  

(Xinhua News Agency April 1, 2004)