Despite ongoing rumors that the Chinese mainland authorities will further tighten its residents' visitation to Macao, the Special Administration Region (SAR) still saw its tourist arrivals during this year's National Day "Golden Week" holidays rose 5.87 percent year-on-year to 646,248, according to the figures released on Monday by the SAR's Immigration Authorities.

The Immigration Authorities recorded 2,250,989 border crossings during the "Golden Week" holidays, lasting from Sept. 29 to Oct. 5, with arrivals and departures standing at 1,119,092 and 1,131,897 respectively.

The Border Gate, a land port connecting Macao with the mainland, had the largest number of arrivals and departures, standing at 833, 925 and 860,208 respectively, according to the figures from the Immigration Authorities.

(Xinhua News Agency October 6, 2008)