Macau’s Venetian Casino has been hit by a bomb scare after a suspicious package was discovered. Macau Business reports that police evacuated and sealed off the casino’s west lobby and car park while investigating the device. The rest of the casino stayed open as police try to ascertain what the object was. It was later revealed by authorities that it was simply “a cardboard box containing two small megaphones” and that there was nothing to worry about. Phew.
Tourist satisfaction in the enclave stayed almost static in Q2 2012 with visitors still happy with how things are done. The Tourism Satisfaction Index for the three months to June was 69.5 points out of 100 – slightly better than last year’s figure of 68.8 points. Casinos polled a level of 70.4 points and as such outscored the enclave as a whole. They were no match for events though, which led the way with 74.9 points. The index could get larger as the mass-market casino sector continues to take hold and don’t be surprised to see it rise in three months time.
Inflation related to tourists in Macau has increased by 6.57 percent compared to the previous year. Official data showed the sharp drop from 10.15 percent that was recorded in the first quarter of the year. Even though the drop happened, the Tourist Price Index remains at an extremely high level after it increased by 12.91 percent compared to the previous period. This is more than double the rate of inflation for the 12 months to May, which stood at 6.4 percent, and means that tourists may have to wait a little while longer to see a kickback from the lower rate of inflation.
