Macao's visitor spending up 10 pct in Q1

Macao saw the total spending of visitors (excluding gaming expenses) reached 14.5 billion patacas (1.81 billion US dollars) in the first quarter of 2013, up 10 percent year-on-year, according to figures released on Friday by the city's Statistics and Census Service (DSEC).

In the first quarter of 2013, per-capita spending of visitors was 2,046 patacas (255 US dollars), an increase of 8 percent year-on-year, the figures indicated.

Analyzed by place of residence, per-capita spending of visitors from the Chinese mainland and Singapore amounted to 2,640 patacas (330 US dollars) and 1,692 patacas (211 US dollars) respectively, the figures showed.

Meanwhile, per-capita spending of tourists (overnight visitors) increased by 6 percent year-on-year to 3,574 patacas (447 US dollars), and that of same-day visitors fell by 5 percent to 632 patacas (79 US dollars).

Analysed by expenditure structure, spending of visitors on shopping, accommodation and food and beverage accounted for 50 percent, 23 percent and 20 percent, respectively.

In addition, results from the Visitors' Comments Survey indicated that most visitors were satisfied with the services rendered by hotels and travel agencies (each with 93 percent). Meanwhile, 6 percent of the visitor-users suggested that the services of public transport should be improved, and 5 percent of the visitors commented that points of tourist attractions were inadequate in Macao.