Macao's Tourist Price Index sees decrease

Macao's average Tourist Price Index (TPI), reflecting the price change of goods and services purchased by visitors, registered a decrease of 0.86 percent year-on-year in 2015, the first annual decline recorded since the index was first published, the region's Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) said on Thursday.

According to the DSEC figures, Price index of Accommodation of the whole year of 2015 declined by 7.08 percent on yearly basis, while that of Food, Alcoholic Drinks & Tobacco, Entertainment & Cultural Activities, and Restaurant Services increased by 4.53 percent, 4.22 percent and 4.02 percent respectively.

Attributable to lower charges for hotel accommodation and reduced prices of clothing, TPI for the fourth quarter of 2015 decreased by 3.03 percent.

Tourism is one of the most important industry in Macao, the Statistics and Census Bureau of Macao started to publish TPI on quarter basis since the fourth quarter of 2000.