Non-gaming visitors’ spending drops 13% in 1H despite higher total expenditure

Macau’s per-capita non-gaming spending by visitors fell 12.8% year-on-year to MOP1,970 in the first half of 2025, even as total non-gaming expenditure slightly edged up 0.2% to MOP37.86 billion, the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) reported.

This shows that although Macau received more visitors in the same period, this increase was not matched by expenditure at the same rate.

According to DSEC data, same-day visitors accounted for the slight increase in total spending, which reached MOP7.85 billion, an increase of 7%.

This result was enough to offset the 1.4% decrease in overnight visitors (MOP30.01 billion) during the same period.

Analyzed by the principal source of visitors, those from the mainland (MOP2,253) continued to spend more on average, followed by Taiwan (MOP1,940) and international markets (MOP1,885). The spending of those arriving from Hong Kong averaged MOP940.

Nonetheless, all the figures from the different markets showed significant drops year-on-year, with the largest decline (-16.9%) from international markets, followed by the mainland (-14.4%), Hong Kong (-13.4%), and Taiwan (-7.4%).

A different analysis by DSEC also found that those who came to Macau to participate in Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) tourism, as well as those attending performances/competitions, tended to spend significantly more — respectively MOP4,232 and MOP4,161.

Q2 shows a shift in expenditure

According to the release from DSEC, in Q2, the per-capita non-gaming spending of visitors dropped 12.3% year-on-year to MOP1,950. Same-day visitors (MOP673) saw the largest decline, falling 19.3% compared to the previous year.

Despite also showing a drop, the overnight visitors (MOP3,663) figures were similar to last year, recording a decline of 2.1%.

Regarding the type of expense, visitors spent mainly on shopping (41.5% of the total), followed by accommodation (24.9%) and food and beverages (22.5%).

The share of visitors’ spending on food and beverages increased year-on-year, whereas the share on shopping decreased.

Due to the higher number of visitors recorded in the period, Q2 overnight visitors (MOP14.64 billion) and same-day visitors (MOP3.61 billion) increased by 4.4% and 5.5%, respectively.

Analyzed by principal source of visitors, per-capita non-gaming spending of visitors from the mainland (MOP2,203), Hong Kong (MOP1,000), and Taiwan (MOP2,031) decreased 15.0%, 9.1%, and 5.1% year-on-year, respectively, in Q2. The per-capita spending of international visitors (MOP2,134) also declined by 10.2%.

Regarding the Northeast Asian markets, per-capita non-gaming spending of visitors from South Korea (MOP2,728) fell 1.5% year-on-year, whereas spending of those from Japan (MOP2,274) rose 18.5%.

For the Southeast Asian markets, spending of visitors from Thailand (MOP2,455) dropped 8.8% year-on-year, while spending of those from Singapore (MOP3,201) and Malaysia (MOP1,799) rose 22.0% and 6.1%, respectively.

As in the case of the 1H of the year, in Q2, those arriving for MICE events and performances/competitions also had significantly higher expenditures, averaging MOP3,322 and MOP4,079, respectively.

Singapore visitors continue to top expenditure

Following the trend seen last year, visitors from Singapore continue to top the list of those who spend more in Macau.

At the end of June, visitors from the city-state spent an average of MOP3,201. This sum represents an increase of MOP367 compared to the amount recorded at the end of 2024, or 12.95% more.

Compared to the end of 2024, South Korean visitors jumped from fourth to second place on the list of those who spend more, surpassing those from the mainland and Thailand.

South Koreans spent an average of MOP2,728 in the first six months of this year, which is 13.43% more than last year’s end.

Thailand (MOP2,455) occupies the third position, although it recorded a drop of 5.5% compared to the end of 2024 (MOP2,598).

Also noteworthy is Japan’s climb (5th to 4th), which has now surpassed the mainland due to an increase of 8.65% to MOP2,274.

The Top 5 is closed by the mainland (MOP2,203), which dropped two positions (3rd to 5th) due to a decrease in per-capita expenditure (-11.99%) compared to six months ago.