Non-gaming spending by visitors to Macau in the third quarter increased by 30% compared to the same period 2019, while overall visitor spending has recovered to 80% of the 2019 level, Secretary for Economy and Finance, Lei Wai Nong, said Tuesday.
His comments were in response to a question from a member of Macau’s Legislative Assembly during a plenary session with Lei revealing that non-gaming spend has already surpassed that of pre-COVID.
“Visitor spending in Macau, excluding gaming, increased by 14% in the second quarter compared to the same period in 2019 and by 30% in the third quarter,” he said.
“The overall visitor spending power from January to September this year has recovered to 64% of that of 2019, with July to September recovering to 80%.”
He also pointed out that in 2024 the government will strengthen its promotion targeting foreign visitor sources, with a particular focus on Southeast Asia.
According to the Statistics and Census Service, Macau’s total non-gaming spending by visitors reached MOP$17.48 billion (US$2.17 billion) in Q2 compared to MOP$15.71 billion (US$1.95 billion) in the second quarter of 2019.
Tuesday’s meeting of the Legislative Assembly also saw a number of legislators call on the government to enhance the rights and interests of gaming industry participants, including increases to the income of gaming industry employees.
In response, Lei replied said, “The Government will encourage enterprises with the necessary conditions and capabilities to increase the salaries of their employees.”
According to the Census and Statistics Bureau, the number of employees in the gaming industry has been decreasing with 51,693 full-time employees in Q2 representing a year-on-year decline of 1,899. Of these, 23,675 were dealers, down by 418. In the second quarter of 2019, the number of employees in the gaming industry was 57,840.
The average salary of full-time employees in the gaming industry in 2Q23 was MOP$24,730 (US$3,070), while the average salary of dealers was MOP$20,330 (US$2,525).
In 2Q19, the average salary was MOP$24,550 (US$3,525) and the average salary of dealers was MOP$20,850 (US$2,585).
