Information from the Statistics and Census Service indicated that per-capita spending of visitors increased by 12% year-on-year to MOP 1,774 in the third quarter of 2008. Per-capita spending of Mainland visitors took the lead, at MOP 3,512 and that of Hong Kong visitors was MOP 1,126. Compared with the third quarter of 2007, per-capita spending of tourists went up by 16% to MOP 2,413, but that of same-day visitors was MOP 477, a decrease of 16%.

Per-capita non-shopping spending (excluding gaming expenses) of visitors grew by 11% year-on-year to MOP 1,058, of which the expenses on Accommodation and Food & Beverage accounted for 45% and 37% respectively. Besides, per-capita shopping spending rose by 13% to MOP 716, with expenses on Local Food Products and Clothing sharing 30% and 17% respectively.

Per-diem spending of visitors was MOP 1,439, an increase of 6% over the third quarter of 2007. Mainland visitors had the highest per-diem spending of MOP 2,379.

The average length of stay of visitors held stable at 1.2 days, same as the third quarter of 2007. The average of tourists increased by 0.1 day to 1.7 days, while that of same-day visitors stayed unchanged at 0.2 day.