In the fourth quarter of 2003, per-capita spending of visitors increased 3% to MOP1,616 over the same period of 2002. Per-capita spending of visitors from Mainland China topped the list, with MOP2,948.
Compared with the same period of 2002, per-capita spending of tourists was MOP2,068 (+7%) and that of the same-day visitors was MOP472 (+26%).
Per-capita spending of visitors arriving by sea and by air was MOP1,454 and MOP4,063 up 4% and 33% respectively compared with the fourth quarter of 2002; while that of visitors arriving by land dropped 6%
to MOP1,648. Per-capita spending of visitors from Mainland China was the highest among all those arriving by sea (MOP2,707), by land (MOP2,564) and by air (MOP5,360).
Table 1 : Per-capita spending of visitors by place of residence
4th quarter 4th quarter 4th quarter 2003
2002 2003 By sea By land By air
Place of residence
MOP
∆%
MOP
Total 1 567 1 616 3.1 1 454 1 648 4 063
Mainland China 2 563 2 948 15.0 2 707 2 564 5 360
Hong Kong 936 928 -0.9 953 579 ~
Taiwan 1 013 991 -2.2 1 262 683 1 449
Japan 938 958 2.1 958 ~ ~
Southeast Asia 1 957 1 618 -17.3 1 618 ~ ~
Europe 731 900 23.1 900 ~ ~
Americas 1 158 931 -19.6 931 ~ ~
Oceania 982 933 -5.0 933 ~ ~
Per-capita non-shopping and shopping spending
In the fourth quarter of 2003, per-capita non-shopping spending of visitors grew 1% over the same period of 2002, to MOP844. Spending on “food and beverage” took the largest share, followed by
“accommodation”; they accounted for 39% and 38% of the total non-shopping spending respectively.
Furthermore, per-capita shopping spending of visitors went up 6% over the fourth quarter of 2002 to MOP772. Spending on “Chinese pastry, candy and food” as well as “Jewellery and watches” both took the largest shares, each with 22% of the total shopping spending.
Although gambling spending is not considered in the per-capita spending of visitors, about 48% of the interviewed visitors reported that they had gambled during their stay in Macao.
Official Statistics. Reproduction of these data is allowed provided the source is quoted.
Statistics and Census Service
17th floor, “Dynasty Plaza” Bldg., 411-417 Alameda Dr. Carlos d'Assumpção, Macao Tel: 3995311 Fax: 307825 Printed in Feburary 2004
E-Mail: info@dsec.gov.mo Homepage: http://www.dsec.gov.mo
Table 2 : Visitor spending by type of expensea
Government of Macao Special Administrative Region
Statistics and Census Service
VISITOR EXPENDITURE SURVEY
4th QUARTER / 2003
No. 4
4th quarter 4th quarter 4th quarter 2003
2002 2003 By sea By land By air
Type of expense
MOP
∆ %
MOP
Per-capita spending 1 567 1 616 3.1 1 454 1 648 4 063
Non-shopping spending 837 844 0.8 783 825 1 839
Accommodation 302 317 5.0 276 330 933
Food and beverage 339 332 -2.1 308 329 726
Local transport 48 49 2.1 46 55 94
Outbound transport b 92 111 20.7 123 69 34
Entertainment and others 56 34 -39.3 31 41 52
Shopping spending 730 772 5.8 670 822 2 224
Clothing and fabrics 170 171 0.6 133 177 753
Jewellery and watches 198 173 -12.6 167 181 249
Chinese pastry, candy and food 159 173 8.8 173 179 151
Others 203 255 25.6 198 286 1 071
Column totals may not add up to the amount as stated due to rounding.
a Excluding gambling spending
b Excluding air ticket
Graph I : Per-capita shopping spending of visitors by place of residence
Per-diem spending
Per-diem spending of visitors was MOP1,409 in the fourth quarter of 2003, up 6% over the same period of 2002. Visitors from Mainland China spent the most, with MOP2,121.
Per-diem spending of visitors arriving by sea and by air was MOP1,372 and MOP1,679, up 9% and 12% respectively compared with the fourth quarter of 2002. Per-diem spending of visitors arriving by land
MOP
VISITOR EXPENDITURE SURVEY 4th QUARTER / 2003 DSEC No. 4
S.E.
Asia China
Continent al
H.K. Taiwa n
Japa n
America s
Oceania Europe
4th Quarter / 2002 4th Quarter / 2003
0 200 400 600 800 1 000 1 200 1 400 1 600 1 800 2 000
Length of stay
The average length of stay of visitors was 1.1 days, a decrease of 0.1 day compared with the same quarter in 2002, whereas those of tourists (1.5 days) and same-day visitors (0.2 day) were identical to the fourth quarter in 2002. In addition, visitors from Mainland China, Hong Kong and Southeast Asia tended to stay one night or longer in Macao.
Table 3 : Average length of stay
Days Length of stay
Type of visitors 4th
quarter 2002
4th quarter 2003
Difference
Visitor 1.2 1.1 -0.1
Tourist 1.5 1.5 -
Same-day visitor 0.2 0.2 -
Characteristics of visitors
73% of the interviewed visitors came to Macao mainly for “vacation”; other major purposes included “business” (13%), “visiting relatives or friends” (7%) and “gambling” (3%).
Graph II : Main purpose of visit
Regarding the occupation of the visitors, 28% of them were “legislators, senior officials and managers”, 24% were “clerks” and 11% were “technicians and associate professionals”. At the same time, 15% of the visitors were “without occupation”, such as housewives, students, unemployed and retired persons.
No. 4 DSEC 4th QUARTER / 2003 VISITOR EXPENDITURE SURVEY
Visiting relatives / friends 7%
Vacation 73%
Gambling 3%
Business 13%
Others 4%
Comments from visitors
All the interviewed visitors commented on the environmental hygiene and points of tourist attractions in Macao. They were more satisfied with the environmental hygiene, at 60%.
As to the comments on the services and facilities provided, 70% of the interviewees appreciated the services of shops in Macao. There were also favourable comments on services of hotels (68%), public transport (68%) and restaurants (67%). For those interviewees who travelled in package tours, 50%
complimented on the services rendered by travel agencies.
However, the interviewed visitors also suggested improvements on the services provided by travel agencies (9%) and public transport (5%).
Table 4：Comments on services and facilities
% Services and facilities Satisfied Fair Should be
improved No comment
Travel agencies 50 34 9 7
Hotels 68 27 4 1
Restaurants 67 28 3 1
Shops 70 25 2 4
Public transport 68 26 5 2
Percentage totals may not add up to 100% due to rounding.
VISITOR EXPENDITURE SURVEY 4th QUARTER / 2003 DSEC No. 4
Methodology
Visitor Expenditure Survey is conducted on a daily basis, at different departure points, to collect information on visitors’ spending, excluding gambling expenses, during their stay in Macao. To facilitate the data collection process, the questionnaire is available in Chinese, Portuguese, English and Japanese.
Method of sampling
As it is impossible to interview all visitors at different departure points due to the sheer volumn of them. Visitor Expenditure Survey uses systematic sampling method in selecting visitors, including all tourists and same-day visitors who are non-residents of Macao.
Table 5 : Sampling errors
MOP
Visitor
Tourist Same-day visitorVia 4th quarter
2002
4th quarter 2003
4th quarter 2002
4th quarter 2003
4th quarter 2002
4th quarter 2003
Per-capita spending 46.2 43.1 58.7 57.5 10.3 15.3
By sea 44.3 44.5 56.1 59.9 12.8 18.2
By land 137.0 115.8 182.4 165.1 16.6 20.0
By air 230.6 280.7 245.6 294.6 36.2 60.6
Non-shopping spending 13.5 14.1 16.0 17.5 3.9 3.5
By sea 14.7 12.2 17.4 14.6 4.6 4.1
By land 23.9 56.0 29.0 79.5 5.3 5.8
By air 99.4 96.5 103.8 98.0 13.4 13.0
Shopping spending 41.7 37.2 54.1 51.0 9.3 15.4
By sea 39.6 40.1 51.4 55.3 11.5 18.4
By land 128.6 85.4 173.6 126.5 15.8 19.2
By air 181.2 244.6 198.3 263.9 33.2 60.7
No. 4 DSEC 4th QUARTER / 2003 VISITOR EXPENDITURE SURVEY
Concepts
Visitora:
Any person travelling to a place other than that of his/her usual environment for less than 12 consecutive months and whose main purpose of travel is other than the exercise of an activity remunerated from within the place visited.
Classification of visitors:
a) Tourist (overnight visitor): visitor who stays at least one night in a collective or private accommodation in the country visiteda. In addition, we have added two criteria, which are as follows:
1) visitor who stays for more than 24 hours in Macao, or
2) visitor who stays for less than 24 hours and does not stay overnight in Macao but with his/her arrangement made in a collective accommodation such as hotel, guest-houses, etc.
b) Same-day visitora: visitor who does not spend the night in a collective or private accommodation in the country visited.
Conventional symbols
~ No figure provided
- Absolute value equals zero
MOP Macao Pataca
Δ% Rate of change
% Per cent
a World Tourism Organization, Concepts, Definitions and Classifications for Tourism Statistics, 1995 VISITOR EXPENDITURE SURVEY 4th QUARTER / 2003 DSEC No. 4
The following statistical tables can be downloaded from our website
Table 1 : Characteristics of interviewed visitors, by place of residence
Table 2 : Average length of stay of interviewed visitors, by place of residence Table 3 : Per-capita spending of interviewed visitors, by place of residence
Table 4 : Per-capita non-shopping spending of interviewed visitors, by place of residence Table 5 : Per-capita shopping spending of interviewed visitors, by place of residence Table 6 : Per-diem spending of interviewed visitors, by place of residence
Table 7 : Per-capita spending of interviewed visitors, by place of residence and type of expense
Table 8 : Per-capita shopping spending of interviewed visitors, by place of residence and type of expense
Table 9 : Other characteristics of interviewed visitors, by place of residence Table 10 : Occupation of interviewed visitors, by place of residence
Table 11 : Sampling errors of per-capita spending of interviewed visitors, by place of residence and type of expense
Table 12 : Sampling errors of per-capita shopping spending of interviewed visitors, by place of residence and type of expense
Table 13 : Interviewed visitors’ comments on general prices in Macao Table 14 : Interviewed visitors’ comments on services of travel agencies
Table 15 : Interviewed visitors’ comments on services of restaurants and similar establishments Table 16 : Interviewed visitors’ comments on services of hotels and similar establishments Table 17 : Interviewed visitors’ comments on services of shops
Table 18 : Interviewed visitors’ comments on services of public transport Table 19 : Interviewed visitors’ comments on environmental hygiene Table 20 : Interviewed visitors’ comments on points of attractions
No. 4 DSEC 4th QUARTER / 2003 VISITOR EXPENDITURE SURVEY
