Figures from the Immigration Department (ID) showed that the number of border crossings logged from Dec. 31 through Jan. 2 nearly double the region's population, which stood at 482,000 in September 2005.

The ID figures displayed that the number of border crossings comprised 430,921 entries and 421,840 exits during the three-day holiday period.

Macao, one of Asia's tourism destinations famed for its casino gaming industry, boasted a record 17.04 million visitor arrivals during the first 11 months of 2005, a year-on-year rise of 12.5 percent.

Local analysts expect the total number of visitor arrivals in 2005 to exceed 18 million. Enditem