Macau’s Rising Non-Gaming Expenditures Reflect Tourism Diversification Success
Growth in Non-Gaming Expenditures in Macau
Macau has seen a steady increase in visitor spending on activities beyond gambling, highlighting the region’s ongoing push to broaden its tourism appeal and reduce dependence on casinos. Recent figures indicate that in the third quarter of 2025, tourists spent 10% more on non-gaming amenities compared to the previous year.
Efforts to Diversify Macau’s Economy Showing Results
Local authorities have long aimed to broaden Macau’s revenue sources away from the gaming sector. Data from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) points to positive outcomes from these initiatives. According to their report, non-gaming expenditures reached MOP 20.4 billion (approximately $2.55 billion) in Q3 2025, a 10.7% increase compared to the same period in the previous year.
This increase was driven in part by a 7.6% rise in spending by overnight visitors, who contributed MOP 16.8 billion (about $2.1 billion). Additionally, same-day visitors significantly boosted their expenditures by 27.6%, reaching MOP 3.6 billion (around $0.45 billion).
For the year-to-date period, total non-gaming spending by tourists amounted to MOP 58.25 billion ($7.3 billion), marking a 3.6% increase from the prior year.
Breakdown of Non-Gaming Spending and Visitor Trends
Shopping accounted for the largest share of non-gaming expenses, making up 42.4% of the total. Accommodation spending was another important driver, comprising 26.7%, while food and beverage costs represented 21.2% of visitors’ non-gaming expenditures.
Despite overall growth in non-gaming spending, average expenditure per visitor saw a decline. Per capita non-gaming spend dropped by 2.6% to MOP 1,950 ($244) in the third quarter, a trend reflecting an influx of same-day visitors who typically spend less. Year-to-date, the average per visitor spending decreased by 9.5%, falling to MOP 1,963 ($245).
Visitor Demographics Impact on Spending Patterns
The average non-gaming expenditure of visitors from mainland China decreased by 5% to MOP 2,123, which contributed significantly to the overall drop in per capita spending. However, this decline was partially balanced by small increases among other visitor groups. Tourists from Hong Kong increased their average spend slightly by 0.1% to MOP 1,063, visitors from Taiwan raised their expenditures by 9.8% reaching MOP 2,335, and international visitors boosted their spending by 3.3% to MOP 2,261.
