Visitor arrivals top 17 million for first eight months

By Kimberly Johans
Published in The Macau Daily Times
September 22, 2007, page 3 (330 words)

The first eight months of 2007 saw a rise in visitor numbers of 21.8 percent, to 17,230,083, over the same period last year, according to information by the Statistics and Census Service.
Arrivals from Mainland China grew by 21 percent, to 9,432,058 and Hong Kong visitors went up 22 percent.
Meanwhile, visitors from Taiwan dropped slightly by 0.1 percent.
Same-day visitors made up 52.3 percent of total arrivals, at 9,012,494.
The Service stated that, as a result of the summer holidays, the umber of visitor arrivals for August reached 2,381,752, representing a year-on-year rise of 23.9 percent.
A rise was recorded with visitors from Mainland China (32.1 percent ) and Hong Kong (13.4 percent) whereas visitors from Taiwan dropped by 9.4 percent.
Meanwhile, same-day visitors accounted for 51.3 percent of total arrivals, or 1,222,406.

Tip-toeing around the issue of dance

By Kimberly Johans
Published in The Macau Daily Times
September 22, 2007, page 18 (1,024 words)

The repertoire of 28-year-old Italian dance company, Aterballetto, is difficult to compartmentalise. One need only to witness the variety shown within the three pieces offered as part of their tour in Macau, to realise that.
But then this has always been, according to dancers Adrien Boissonnet and Beatrice Mille, a goal for Mauro Bigonzetti, the company’s choreographer.
The three pieces, ‘Homage to Bach’, ‘Songs’ and ‘Cantata’, offer a glimpse into the creative mind of a most celebrated individual, whose decade-long tenure with Aterballetto have allowed the company to grow beyond Italy alone, to become a world-wide phenomena.
The first piece, “a personal tribute”, was a means of commemorating the 250th anniversary of Johann Sebastian Bach’s death.
According to the company’s description of the piece, “through the use of dance, in a pure, essential and unadorned form, [Mauro] interprets Bach’s musical universe, the geometric and architectonic perfection, the equilibrium between human and transcendent expressed in his art.”

It’s a cracker pace as the fireworks contest hots up

By Kimberly Johans
Published in The Macau Daily Times
September 22, 2007, page 4 (1,218 words)

There are sure to be some members of the audience watching the fireworks tonight that won’t expect much of a competition. After all, on the one hand, there’s Taiwanese team, San Tai Fireworks, who have not only placed I 2005, but also won in 2003.
On the other hand, you’ve got Five Star Fireworks, the Australian team that will be competing at the Macau festival for the first time.
But never let it be said that the Australian team are coming in as underdogs. That’s hardly the case from where they’re standing.
“Just by being here it’s going to give us respect but when we take first prize it’s going to give us more,” said Ian Thomasson, Managing Director, who added “I’m a positive person!”
It’s a matter of pride and respect for this team.
“I think that by not only Australia knowing we represented them but the world knowing, gives you a bit more respect.
“To say we represented our country and, shall I be bold and say, came first!

Cost of living show slight rise for August

By Kimberly Johans
Published in The Macau Daily Times
September 22, 2007, 2 (298 words)

The Composite CPI for August rose by 0.50 percent over July to 115.72 according to information provided by the Statistics and Census Service.
This gain was main attributable to increases in the price indices of food and non-alcoholic beverages as well as housing and fuels.
The indices of Food & non-alcoholic beverages; Housing & fuels; and Recreation & culture recorded notable increases compared with July 2007.
These increases were 1.20%, 0.88% and 0.54% respectively, due to dearer prices of fresh pork and vegetables, rising charges for meals bought away from home, higher rentals for housing, increasing charges for maintenance and repair of dwellings, rising prices of LPG, as well as higher charges for outbound package tours during the summer holidays.
Meanwhile, there was a decrease recorded for the indices of Communication (1.94 percent), Clothing & footwear (1.21 percent) and Transport (0.35 percent), due to lower charges for international phone calls during the summer holidays, reduction sales of men’s and women’s clothing, as well as lower prices of gasoline.