Macao's tourism growth touches lowest level in 12 years

Macao's Tourist Price Index (TPI) for the second quarter of 2015 made a 0.82 percent year-on-year gain to 134.61, the minimum increase in 12 years, which is also the fourth consecutive fall, according to figures released Tuesday by the city's Statistics and Census Service (DSEC).

Slight rise in the year-on-year figure of Macao's TPI in quarter two of 2015 attributable to rising charges for restaurant services and dearer prices of local food products.

Notable increase was observed in the price index of Entertainment & Cultural Activities (+5.74 percent), Restaurant Services (+5.13 percent), and Food, Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco (+4.50 percent), the statistics of DSEC indicated.

On the contrary, price index of Accommodation decreased by 2.82 percent year-on-year due to lower room rates for three-and four- star hotels.

DSEC latest data showed that TPI for the second quarter of 2015 dropped by 7.92 percent quarter-to-quarter. Price index of Accommodation and Transport & Communications fell by 27.13 percent and 4.40 percent respectively on account of lower hotel room rate and airfare after the Lunar New Year.

However, dearer prices of local food products drove up the price index of Food, Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco by 2.46 percent quarter-to-quarter.

The TPI reflects changes in the prices of goods and services purchased by visitors, which is compiled according to the consumption pattern of visitors, including transport and communications, food, alcoholic drinks and tobacco and restaurant service, accommodation, entertainment and culture and sundry items.