At least four new casinos are being developed, and most include convention and meeting halls, said Ambrose So, director of the Sociedade de Jogos de Macau (Gambling Society of Macau, or SJDM).

"The Macau government is trying to transform itself as a new place for the meeting, incentive, convention and exhibition (MICE) business to complement gambling and entertainment," said So.

The former Portuguese enclave has become the world's largest of source of gambling income, with an annual US$5.6 billion (Bt196 billion), ahead of Las Vegas, Nevada. There are 24 casino complexes currently operated by six casino groups.

Macau welcomed 22 million international visitors last year. More then 90 per cent of arrivals were from China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

The SJDM is developing two gambling complexes. The first project is Ponte 16, worth HK$2.5 billion (Bt11.18 billion), which is scheduled to open in September. The second property, Oceanus, will open in 2009.

The SJDM operates 18 casinos in Macau. It is the biggest operator, with a 62-per-cent share of gambling income. It also runs three casinos in Portugal and one in Vietnam. The group opened its latest complex, the Grand Lisboa, in February.

"Thailand is one of our main markets," said So.

Frank Xiao, senior executive vice president for marketing at Wynn Macao, said the second phase of Wynn Macau, worth US$200 million, was under construction. The new property will feature a casino and 400 hotel rooms, set to open next year.

Moreover, Wynn is planning to build a new complex on Macau's Taipa Island, which will feature a hotel, convention hall and casino.

Las Vegas Sands Corp is developing a huge project on Cotai Strip that will include a casino, convention hall, hotels and entertainment complex. Chairman and CEO Sheldon Adelson said the group was spending US$1.2 billion (Bt42.4 billion) to develop an area of reclaimed land between the islands of Taipa and Coloane.

The project will feature a wide array of shopping, dining and entertainment options, as well as 20,000 rooms provided by international hotel chains.

The Traders Hotel, the Shangri-La Hotel and the first phase of the Sheraton Macau Hotel are all on target to open next year. The Saint Regis Hotel and the second phase of the Sheraton Macau are scheduled to open in 2009.

Starwood Hotels and Resorts will manage the 4,000-room Sheraton Macau and more than 400 rooms of serviced apartments under the Saint Regis brand.

Las Vegas Sands Corp operates the Venetian Resort Hotel Casino and the Sands Expo and Convention Centre in Las Vegas, as well as the Sands Macau casino. The group is building a new casino complex in Singapore's Marina Bay.

The Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Macau Government Tourist Office to boost the number of tourists and business travellers between the two destinations.

Suchat Sritama

The Nation