Non-gaming visitor spending in Macau has seen a notable year-on-year decline, with per-capita spending dropping by 17 percent from January to September 2024.
According to data published by the SAR authorities, total visitor spending (excluding gaming expenses) increased by 8 percent year-on-year, reaching MOP56.21 billion ($7.04 billion) in the first three quarters of 2024. However, this overall rise masks a significant decrease in individual spending, which fell to MOP2,168 ($272) per visitor, reflecting a 17 percent year-on-year decline.
In the third quarter alone, total visitor spending amounted to MOP18.42 billion ($2.31 billion), with per-capita expenditure decreasing by 15.4 percent to MOP2,002 ($251) compared to the same period last year.
A breakdown from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) reveals that 45.6 percent of non-gaming spending went to shopping, 25.5 percent was spent on accommodation, and 20.8 percent was allocated to food and beverage during the first three quarters.
This shift in spending patterns comes amid a slowdown in China’s economy, which has directly impacted Macau’s tourism sector. The trend of more conservative consumption has been observed for some time.
The overall increase in total spending is primarily due to a significant rise in visitor arrivals during the period. In the first three quarters of 2024, Macau welcomed 25,920,914 visitors, marking a 30.1 percent year-on-year increase. Despite this surge, the average length of stay decreased slightly by 0.1 day, settling at 1.2 days. Notably, the number of inbound package tour visitors saw a remarkable rise of 101.2 percent, totaling 1,497,036.
Third-quarter statistics show that visitor arrivals reached 9,200,931, an 11.1 percent increase compared to the same period last year. This period also saw a slight reduction in the average length of stay, which remained at 1.2 days. Package tour visitors numbered 511,388, reflecting a 34.5 percent growth.
Meanwhile, as of the end of the third quarter of 2024, Macau’s accommodation sector comprised 144 hotel establishments, offering a total of 44,163 guest rooms. The average occupancy rate for these rooms increased significantly by 4.8 percentage points year-on-year, reaching 85.4 percent, with the number of guests rising by 11.2 percent to approximately 10,889,356.
In the third quarter specifically, hotel occupancy climbed to an average rate of 88.5 percent, although the number of guests experienced a slight decline of 3.7 percent, totaling around 3,610,632.
