The per-capita non-gaming spending of visitors in Macau dropped by 14.6 percent year-on-year in 2024, amounting to MOP2,157 ($269), according to data from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC).
The situation could be alarming, as both overnight and same-day visitors recorded declines in spending. Overnight visitors spent an average of MOP3,884 ($484), an 8.2 percent decrease, while same-day visitors spent MOP691 ($86), down 12.7 percent year-on-year.
Shopping remained the largest expenditure category, accounting for 45.4 percent of total visitor spending, followed by accommodation at 25.5 percent and food and beverages at 20.9 percent. Visitors who traveled to Macau for performances, competitions, or MICE events demonstrated relatively high per-capita spending, averaging MOP5,076 ($633) and MOP4,323 ($539), respectively.
Despite the drop in per-capita spending, total visitor spending—excluding gaming expenses—rose by 5.8 percent year-on-year to MOP75.36 billion in 2024. This increase was primarily driven by a 23.8 percent rise in visitor arrivals. Total spending by overnight visitors reached MOP62.31 billion ($7.77 billion), up 3.5 percent, while same-day visitors contributed MOP13.05 billion ($1.63 billion), marking a 17.9 percent increase.
According to official data released on Friday, visitor spending declined across several key source markets in 2024. Per-capita spending by visitors from mainland China, Macau’s main tourist source market, fell by 18.1 percent to MOP2,503 ($312). Spending by visitors from Hong Kong and Taiwan dropped by 13 percent and 8.8 percent, to MOP1,009 ($126) and MOP1,952 ($244), respectively.
In Northeast Asia, visitors from the South Korea recorded the largest decline in per-capita spending, down 33.8 percent to MOP2,405 ($300). Japanese visitors spent an average of MOP2,093 ($260), a 1.4 percent decrease.
Among Southeast Asian visitors, spending trends were mixed. Per-capita spending by Thai and Malaysian visitors fell by 22.7 percent and 15 percent, to MOP2,598 ($324) and MOP1,992 ($249), respectively. In contrast, Singaporean visitors were an exception, with their per-capita spending increasing by 6.6 percent to MOP2,834 ($353).
