Merchants hope Northern District festival will drive spending

Local merchants participating in the ongoing 17th edition of the Northern District Consumer Carnival are optimistic that the event will help attract foot traffic, stimulate spending, and boost overall business.

Several food outlets noted that weekend customer numbers are typically low and hope the carnival can increase business by around 10%.

A participating pharmacy noted that with the current economic environment affecting residents’ purchasing power, ongoing promotional events organized by trade associations are beneficial in encouraging local spending.

The pharmacy added that it has not introduced additional discounts specifically for the event, relying instead on small-margin, high-volume sales and regular customer discounts.

Meanwhile, some food outlets expressed confidence that the event can stimulate local spending, though attracting shoppers from other districts remains challenging. These stores are promoting updates through social media to reach customers directly.

The Industry and Commerce Association of Macau Northern District launched a six-week consumer carnival on Monday to boost holiday spending, targeting about 500 merchants with electronic coupons and lucky draws.

The festival runs through Feb. 20, spanning the Chinese Lunar New Year period.