Visitor expenditure surges to MOP17b in Q2

Total visitor spending (excluding gaming expenses) surged 354.6% year-on-year to MOP17.48 billion in the second quarter of 2023.

Data from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) shows that the spending of overnight visitors (MOP14.58 billion) and same-day visitors (MOP2.90 billion) soared 415% and 186.2% year-on-year respectively.

In the first half of 2023, total visitor spending amounted to MOP32.46 billion, an uplift of 210.9% year-on-year.

Analyzed by source of visitors, per-capita spending of visitors from mainland China grew 31.8% year-on-year to MOP3,261.

According to DSEC, spending of those traveling under the Individual Visit Scheme (MOP3,385) fell 31.1%. Visitors from Hong Kong and Taiwan spent an average of MOP1,140 and MOP2,595 respectively.

As regards type of expense, visitors spent primarily on shopping (48.5% of total) in the second quarter, followed by accommodation (24.5%) and food and beverage (17.4%).

Recent data from the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) has recorded the arrival of almost 12 million visitors during the first half of this year.

According to those records, some 11.65 million entered Macau between January and June, a daily average of over 64,000 visitors.

Although the numbers are still far from those recorded pre-pandemic (2019), the MGTO noted the current numbers account for a rebound to 59.6% of 2019 numbers. Staff Reporter