MACAO, May 30 (Xinhua) -- China's Macao Special Administrative Region saw a GDP growth rate of 18.8 percent in the first quarter, according to official statistics issued Tuesday.

    The figures released by the government-run Statistics and Census Service (SCS) showed that rising gaming receipts, visitor expenditures and the exports value in the quarter dedicated much to the two-digit growth in gross domestic product (GDP).

    The city in the first quarter saw year-on-year increase of 14.9percent, 19.9 percent and 36.9 percent respectively in the above three sectors, the figures showed.

    Local analysts predict that as the visitor flow is keeping getting stronger, the casino industry will remain its rising trend, ensuring the 2006 GDP growth rate a two-digit bottom line. Enditem