Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the Tourist Price Index (TPI) for the third quarter of 2019 dropped by 0.65% year-on-year to 129.94. The decrease was mainly attributable to lower charges for hotel accommodation and falling prices of clothing; yet, rising charges for restaurant services and dearer prices of gold jewellery and local food products offset part of the decrease. Among the various sections of goods and services, price indices of Clothing & Footwear and Accommodation fell notably by 5.50% and 4.62% respectively year-on-year, whereas the indices of Entertainment & Cultural Activities and Miscellaneous Goods grew by 3.04% and 2.44% respectively.

In comparison with the previous quarter, TPI for the third quarter of 2019 rose by 1.46%. Price index of Accommodation surged by 13.63% on account of higher hotel room rates during the summer holidays. Price indices of Transport & Communications and Miscellaneous Goods also grew by 2.78% and 1.71% respectively quarter-to-quarter owing to increases in airfares and gold jewellery prices. On the other hand, seasonal sale of summer clothing pushed down the price index of Clothing & Footwear markedly by 10.29%.

The average TPI for the last four quarters ended the third quarter of 2019 dropped by 0.81% from the previous period. Price indices of  Clothing & Footwear (-5.44%) and Accommodation (-3.72%) recorded notable decreases, while the indices of Food, Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco (+3.09%) and Entertainment & Cultural Activities (+2.65%)  increased. For  the  first  three quarters of 2019, TPI went down by 0.42% year-on-year, with price indices of Clothing & Footwear and Accommodation falling by 5.12% and 2.55% respectively. Meanwhile, price indices of Entertainment & Cultural Activities and Food, Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco rose by 3.22% and 2.76% respectively.

TPI reflects the price change of goods and services purchased by visitors. Sections of TPI goods and services are selected according to the consumption pattern of visitors, namely Food, Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco; Clothing & Footwear; Accommodation; Restaurant Services; Transport & Communications; Medicine & Personal Goods; Entertainment & Cultural Activities; and Miscellaneous Goods.