Macau’s total visitor spending in the first half of 2024 amounted to MOP$37.8 billion (US$4.71 billion), a year-on-year increase of 16.4% and 15.8% higher than in the first half of 2019, According to information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC). The figure does not include gaming spend.
Per capita spending of visitors to Macau in the first half of the year was MOP$2,260 (US$281.10), an increase of 40.5% over 2019 although a decrease of 18.9% compared to the same period in 2023.
DSEC attributed the drop compared to last year to a higher base due to the concentrated release of demand for visitor spending after the reopening of Macau in 2023.
In the first half of the year, overnight visitors spent MOP$30.5 billion (US$3.79 billion) while same-day visitors spent MOP$7.33 billion (US$910 million), recording year-on-year increases of 13.1% and 32.4% respectively.
In terms of the main purpose of visitor arrivals, the per capita spending of those who came to Macau to watch performances or competitions in the first half of the year was relatively high at MOP$5,656 (US$703.60), but decreased by 10.1% year-on-year, while the per capita spending of those who came for conventions and exhibitions amounted to MOP$4,992 (US$621), representing a year-on-year increase of 6.5%.
By major source of visitors, per capita spending of visitors from mainland China in the first half of the year amounted to MOP$2,632 (US$327.90), down 25.5% year-on-year but up 44.4% compared to 2019. Per capita spending of those from Singapore, Korea and Thailand, which ranged from MOP$2,522 (US$313.70) to MOP$2,592 (US$322.50), also increased by more than 20%.
As for the second quarter, total visitor spending amounted to MOP$17.4 billion (US$2.16billion), a slight year-on-year decrease of 0.2%, while per capita spending amounted to MOP$2,223 (US$276.5), a decrease of 14.8%, which was narrower than that of the first quarter. Compared to the same quarter of 2019, the total and per capita spending of visitors in the second quarter increased by 11.0% and 40.5% respectively.
Visitor arrivals in the first half of this year have continued to rebound. According to Macau’s Public Security Police Force, visitor arrivals this year have already exceeded 20 million, two months faster than last year.
