Q3 2017 Tourism Related Figures Released

The Macao SAR Government has announced various tourism related figures for the third quarter of 2017, with data showing increases in the number of MICE events and participants, while visitors expenditure increased 8.8 per cent year-on-year and around 20 hotels were under construction.

More hotels in the pipeline

Some 21 hotels were under construction in the third quarter of 2017, bringing on line 8524 rooms. Meanwhile, 29 other hotels were in the construction project phase, and are expected to supply 5077 rooms.

MICE, related participants up 34 per cent in Q3

According to figures published by Macao SAR Government Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) the number of meetings & conferences held in the third quarter increased by 22 year-on-year to 279, with the number of participants rising 33.9 per cent to 60000. Growth was driven by increases in the number of meetings & conferences with 200 participants or more, up 18, while the corresponding number of participants increased 45.7 per cent.

Meanwhile, meetings & conferences of four hours or more increased by 12 year-on-year to 183, with a total 51000 participants, representing 37.7 per cent increase. The overall average duration of meetings & conferences went up by 0.1 days year-on-year to 1.5 days.

The number of exhibitions held in the third quarter decreased by 2 year-on-year to 15, bringing the number of attendees down by 12.9 per cent to 503000. Of the exhibitions, 11 were organised by non-government organisations, with the number of attendees dropping 16.9 per cent year-on-year to 354000.

The average duration of the exhibitions was 3.4 days, down 0.1 days year-on-year; the total floor area occupied decreased by 12.6 per cent to 52000 square metre. The number of incentives increased by seven year-on-year to 10, with 18000 participants, soaring 220.4 per cent. The average duration of incentives dipped 0.9 days to 2.8 days.

Overnight and same-day visitors expenditure increases

Visitors spent (excluding gaming expenses) MOP15.93 billion in the third quarter of 2017. The total spending of overnight visitors and same-day visitors was MOP12.99 billion and MOP2.94 billion, rising 9 per cent and 8.2 per cent, respectively, year-on-year.

Meanwhile, the per capita spending of visitors, overnight visitors and same-day visitors was MOP1926 (up 6.7 per cent year-on-year), MOP2862 (up 1.9 per cent year-on-year), and MOP788 (up 12.0 per cent year-on-year), respectively, in the third quarter of 2017.

With regard to type of visitor spending, visitors mainly spent on shopping (46.4 per cent), accommodation (26.7 per cent) and food & beverages (19.3 per cent). Per capita shopping spending of visitors increased by 14.2 per cent year-on-year to MOP894, while spending on cosmetics & perfume was MOP232, surging 72.7 per cent.

Visitors more satisfied with travel agencies but slightly less satisfied with hotels

According to the visitors' comments in the third quarter of 2017, some 85 per cent of visitor-users were satisfied with the services of hotels, a decrease of 1.1 per cent quarter-to-quarter. The share of those who complimented the properties on environmental hygiene (76.1 per cent) and the services of retail shops (75.5 per cent) dropped 3.8 per cent and 0.1 per cent, respectively.

The proportion of visitors satisfied with the services of travel agencies (73.3 per cent) registered a notable increase of 9.6 per cent quarter-to-quarter. A relatively low proportion of visitors were satisfied with public transport (63.8 per cent), down by 3.8 per cent quarter-to-quarter. On the other hand, 56.1 per cent of visitors commented that there were adequate points of tourist attraction in Macao, up 5.2 per cent on the previous quarter.