The Macao special administrative region (SAR) government is looking at better ways to host tourists from China's interior, which is tipped to soar in the wake of further opening of the inland tourist market.

Official figures show that China's inland became the second largest tourist source for the SAR with nearly three million visitor arrivals in 2001, a year on year increase of up to 30 percent.

And the number is projected to be even greater this year, taking into consideration of the post of the China National Tourism Administration that the number of designated travel agencies handling tour groups to Hong Kong and Macao has increased to 67 from a mere four.

A list of good-quality travel agencies, selected from 101 Macao's registered travel services, will come out before the traditional Spring Festival to welcome tourists from China's inland. The red-letter holiday will, as usual, see a tourism boom in the country.

Rules and regulations on supervising travel agencies will also be upgraded this year.

In response to the fact that a number of travel agencies often bring tourists to stores doing illegal business, tourism official of Macao told Xinhua that "the problem should be solved."

In 2001, Macao witnessed a record of more than ten million tourists, with Hong Kong remaining the largest source. Tourism is an economic pillar for the 23.4-square-kilometer SAR.

( Xinhua News Agency January 15,2002 )