Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the Tourist Price Index (TPI) for the second quarter of 2018 went up by 2.78% year-on-year to 129.86, on account of rising charges for hotel accommodation and restaurant services, higher bus fares and airfares, and dearer prices of local food products. Among the various sections of goods and services, price indices of Accommodation, Transport & Communications and Food, Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco rose by 7.05%, 6.30% and 4.25% respectively.
In comparison with the previous quarter, TPI for the second quarter of 2018 decreased by 5.17%. Price indices of Accommodation and Transport & Communications fell by 22.60% and 3.51% respectively owing to lower hotel room rates and airfares after the Lunar New Year. Meanwhile, new arrival of summer clothing & footwear drove up the price index of Clothing & Footwear by 2.10%.
The average TPI for the last four quarters ended the second quarter of 2018 rose by 4.21% from the previous period, with notable increases in the price indices of Accommodation (+14.12%) and Transport & Communications (+4.87%); meanwhile, index of Clothing & Footwear decreased by 1.81%. For the first half of 2018, TPI went up by 4.48% year-on-year, with price indices of Accommodation and Transport & Communications rising by 13.64% and 6.44% 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.