Taiwan island casino 'to trigger China tourist boom'

The offshore island group of Matsu is likely to attract a large number of Chinese tourist gamblers, observers said Sunday, a day after residents voted to allow Taiwan's first casino.

A wave of visitors from the mainland could provide a welcome boost to the cluster of islets close to the China coast, as detente in the Taiwan Strait has caused a decline in income from military personnel, they said.

"People that are looking to building casinos anywhere in Taiwan are eyeing Chinese tourists," said Anita Chen, a Taipei-based managing director for US-based lobbying firm Park Strategies and an expert on the gaming industry.

A total of 1,795 people voted "yes" in Saturday's referendum on allowing a casino while 1,341 voted against it and 28 cast invalid votes, said the Matsu government, adding the turnout rate among eligible voters was 40 percent.