Tourists in Macao collectively spent 24.43 billion patacas (US$3.03 billion) outside of the gambling halls in the first quarter of this year, an increase of 24.5 percent against the 19.62 billion patacas recorded in the same period last year. 

When all visitors were taken into account, non-gambling consumption on a per-capita basis reached an average of 2,179 patacas (US$271) in the first quarter, up 9.5 percent year-on-year, according to the Statistics and Census Service (known by its Portuguese initials DSEC). 

The average spending of each overnight visitor grew by 7.7 percent, hitting 4,101 patacas (US$510). Meanwhile, the figure for same-day visitors rose by 40.6 percent, averaging 1,025 patacas (US$127.5). 

Shopping made up a large proportion of the non-gambling spending of travellers, accounting for 48.2 percent of the total. Accommodation came in second, making up 21.1 percent of total spending, followed by foods and beverages (21 percent), transport (4.9 percent) and other expenditures (4.63 percent). 

In terms of the domestic visitor market, mainland Chinese tourists recorded the highest amount of non-gambling spending per person, with the figure averaging 2,392 patacas (US$297), a rise of 4.1 percent year-on-year. By contrast, Taiwanese travellers spent an average of 2,004 patacas (US$249), a jump of 8.9 percent, while Hong Kong residents consumed 1,203 patacas (US$149), a rise of 37.4 percent. 

Among international visitors, per capita spending by South Koreans rose by 35 percent to 2,226 patacas (US$276). The average expenditure of Japanese tourists grew by 47.9 percent, reaching 2,093 patacas (US$260). 

The various Southeast Asian markets also witnessed a year-on-year growth in spending, with Singaporean tourists consuming an average of 3,697 patacas per person (US$459, +43.1 percent). Thai travellers spent 2,224 patacas (US$276, +4.2 percent), while their Malaysian counterparts recorded an average spending of 1,761 patacas (US$219, +5.6 percent).

By purpose of visit, travellers attending MICE events spent the most per capita in the first quarter, with their expenditure totalling 4,532 patacas (US$563). It was down 18 percent from a year ago, however. 

In second place were visitors attending performances and competitions, who spent 3,515 patacas (US$437), a 19.6 percent drop. This was followed by holiday visitors whose expenditure totalled 2,488 patacas (US$309, +6.2 percent), and those whose trips were based around shopping, with their spending hitting 2,399 patacas (US$298, -14.9 percent). 

The spending of Macao visitors outside of gaming establishments is determined through DSEC’s Visitor Expenditure Survey, the results of which are released each quarter.