Number of Macao's visitor arrivals in package tours totaled 244,654 in May 2009, a substantial decrease of 42.5 percent year-on-year, according to the figures released on Monday by Macao's Statistics and Census Service (DSEC).

Visitors from the Chinese mainland (157,543), Hong Kong (17,792) and Japan (12,182) decreased by 43.5 percent, 44.5 percent and 38. 8 percent respectively year-on-year whereas those from Taiwan (15, 415) increased by 2.8 percent in May, the figures showed.

The DSEC said the decrease in visitor arrivals in package tours was attributable to the influence of the Influenza A/H1N1 pandemic and the implementation of the new Travel Agency Regulation in the Chinese mainland.

(Xinhua News Agency July 14, 2009)