Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the Tourist Price Index (TPI) for the first quarter of 2020 went down by 1.05% year-on-year to 136.47, on account of lower hotel room rates and falling prices of handbags and ladies’ clothing; yet, rising charges for restaurant services and dearer prices of jewellery offset part of the decrease. Among the various sections of goods and services, price indices of Clothing & Footwear (-13.53%) and Accommodation (-5.79%) recorded notable year-on-year decline, while the indices of Miscellaneous Goods (+5.05%), Transport & Communications (+4.46%) and Food, Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco (+3.98%) increased.
In comparison with the fourth quarter of 2019, TPI for the first quarter of 2020 dropped by 2.17%. Price indices of Clothing & Footwear and Accommodation decreased by 16.02% and 5.04% respectively owing to seasonal sale of winter clothing and lower hotel room rates. On the other hand, price indices of Transport & Communications (+5.43%) and Food, Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco (+2.08%) registered growth.
The average TPI for the last four quarters ended the first quarter of 2020 went down by 0.82% from the previous period, with decreases in the price indices of Clothing & Footwear (-6.85%) and Accommodation (-5.10%). Meanwhile, price indices of Food, Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco (+3.01%), Restaurant Services (+2.30%) and Miscellaneous Goods (+2.22%) increased.
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.