The total spending of visitors to Macau, not including gaming, fell 33.0% quarter-on-quarter to MOP$4.80 billion (US$598 million) in the three months to 30 September 2021, impacted by reduced visitation due to a series of COVID-19 outbreaks.
While the figure was 374% higher than the same period in 2020, at the peak of the pandemic, it fell substantially compared with the June quarter with total spending of overnight visitors down from MOP$6.38 billion (US$795 million) to MOP$4.22 billion (US$526 million)and same-day visitors from MOP$777 million (US$97 million) to MOP$580 million (US$72 million).
Per capita spending was also down sequentially, from MOP$3,271 (US$408) in 2Q21 to MOP$2,626 (US$327), with spending of visitors from mainland China falling from MOP$3,427 (US$427) to MOP$2,597 (US$324).
Shopping continues to be the primary area of spending, accounting for 61.0% of per-capita spending in the third quarter, followed by accommodation at 18.6% and food & beverage at 15.9%. Compared to 3Q20 levels, per-capita spending of visitors coming to Macau for vacation grew 36.1% to MOP$5,574 (US$695) and for shopping by 186% to MOP$3,019 (US$376).
For the first three quarters of 2021 combined, total spending of visitors grew 199.3% year-on-year to MOP18.14 billion (US$2.26 billion).
