Information from the Statistics and Census Service indicated that the Tourist Price Index (TPI) for the first quarter of 2010 rose by 9.40% year-on-year to 161.81. The price indices of Miscellaneous Goods; Accommodation; Transport & Communications; Food, Alcoholic Drinks & Tobacco; and Restaurant Services increased notably by 19.26%, 11.66%, 4.94%, 4.59% and 4.59% respectively, attributable to dearer prices of jewellery led by rising gold prices; substantial rise of hotel room rate, airfares, food prices, as well as higher charges for restaurant services during the Lunar New Year. On the contrary, price index of Clothing & Footwear registered a slight decrease of 0.38% year-on-year.

The first quarter TPI went up by 2.04% quarter-to-quarter, of which the price indices of Transport & Communications; and Restaurant Services increased by 4.67% and 2.38% respectively. On the other hand, price index of Clothing & Footwear decreased slightly by 0.53%.

The average TPI for the last 4 quarters ended the first quarter of 2010 increased by 5.83% over the previous period, with marked increase observed in the indices of Miscellaneous Goods (+14.18%); Accommodation (+5.43%); Food, Alcoholic Drinks & Tobacco (+5.11%); and Restaurant Services (+4.24%). However, price index of Transport & Communications registered a decrease of 0.56%.

TPI reflects the price changes of goods and services purchased by visitors, which is compiled according to the consumption pattern of visitors. TPI covers 8 sections of goods and services, namely Food, Alcoholic Drinks & Tobacco; Clothing & Footwear; Accommodation; Restaurant Services; Transport & Communications; Medicine & Personal Goods; Entertainment & Cultural Activities; and Miscellaneous Goods. The base period of TPI is from July 1999 to June 2000.