Information from the Statistics and Census Service indicated that the arrivals of visitor and non-resident reached 30,185,740 in 2008, with visitor arrivals totalling 22,907,724. The majority of visitors came from Mainland China (11,595,130), Hong Kong (7,009,178), Taiwan, China (1,315,773), Malaysia (428,603) and Japan (366,920). Number of Mainland visitors travelling to Macao under the Individual Visit Scheme totalled 6,584,657, taking up 57% of the total Mainland visitors. Same-day visitors were 12,303,098, sharing 54% of the total visitor arrivals. Visitor arrivals in package tours accounted for 21% of the total at 4,902,029.

In 2008, the number of Macao residents travelling outbound in package tours increased by 8% over 2007 to 229,188 and those travelled under individual arrangements using services of travel agencies dropped by 3% to 377,229.

In light of the opening of 3 new hotels in 2008, the availability of hotel guest rooms rose by 8% year-on-year to 17,490 whereas the average occupancy rate decreased by 2.7 percentage points to 74.5%. Number of hotel guests increased by 14% from 2007 to 6,537,661 with an average length of stay of 1.44 nights, up by 0.10 night compared with 2007.

Per-capita spending of visitors was MOP 1,729 in 2008, up by 6% over 2007, with Mainland visitors having the highest per-capita spending of MOP 3,571.

Per-capita non-shopping spending (excluding gaming expenses) of visitors amounted to MOP 1,027, up by 9% over 2007, with that of the Mainland visitors leading at MOP 1,378. Expenses on Accommodation and Food & Beverage took up 46% and 36% respectively of the per-capita non-shopping spending.

Per-capita shopping spending of visitors went up slightly by 1% over 2007 to MOP 702, with that of Mainland visitors leading at MOP 2,193. Spending on Local Food Products and Clothing took the largest share of 29% and 19% respectively.

Per-diem spending of visitors went up by 3% over 2007 to MOP 1,506; visitors from Mainland China had the highest per-diem spending of MOP 2,521. The average length of stay (1.1 days) of visitors was the same as in 2007; the respective average for tourists and same-day visitors was 1.7 days and 0.2 day.

Per-capita spending of visitor arriving by sea and by land was MOP 1,361 and MOP 1,989, respectively, up by 2% and 10% over 2007, while per-capita spending of visitor by air dropped by 9% year-on-year to MOP 3,865.