Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the average Tourist Price Index (TPI) for 2017 rose by 0.77% year-on-year to 131.87 after two years of decline. The increase was mainly attributable to rising charges for hotel accommodation and restaurant services, and dearer prices of Chinese local food products; meanwhile, falling prices of clothing and handbags as well as lower airfares tapered off part of the increase. Analysed by main section of goods and services, price indices of Restaurant Services and Accommodation grew by 5.11% and 4.97% respectively year-on-year, whereas those of Clothing & Footwear and Transport & Communications fell by 7.16% and 6.52% respectively.
TPI for the fourth quarter of 2017 increased by 5.59% year-on-year to 142.51 on account of higher charges for hotel accommodation and restaurant services. Among the various sections of goods and services, price index of Accommodation (+20.84%) recorded notable growth, followed by indices of Transport & Communications (+6.83%) and Restaurant Services (+4.09%); meanwhile, price index of Clothing & Footwear (-4.84%) registered a decrease.
In comparison with the previous quarter, TPI for the fourth quarter of 2017 increased by 9.95%. Price index of Accommodation surged by 40.84% due to higher hotel room rates during the National Day holidays, the Macao Grand Prix and Christmas holidays. Moreover, new arrival of winter clothing and higher airfares drove up the price indices of Clothing & Footwear and Transport & Communications by 6.90% and 3.99% respectively quarter-to-quarter. On the other hand, price indices of Miscellaneous Goods and Medicine & Personal Goods decreased by 0.67% and 0.49% 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.