The cost to stay at one of Macau’s many hotels and guesthouses during the third quarter reportedly increased by an average of some 5.57% year-on-year as the Asian city’s overall tourist price index for the three-month period rose by 0.90% to reach 130.78 points.

Accommodation costs escalate:

According to a Monday report from GGRAsia citing official information from the enclave’s Statistics and Census Service, the third-quarter cost of accommodation represented a 9.14% quarter-on-quarter swell and was due to ‘higher hotel room rates during the summer holidays’ although the prices for goods such as handbags, clothing and jewelry fell.

Overall index posts modest rise:

The government agency additionally revealed that the overall tourist price index for the third quarter posted a modest 0.71% boost when compared with the previous three-month period led by associated escalations in the costs of accommodation, alcoholic drinks, tobacco and food.

GGRAsia reported that the tourist price index reflects changes to the price of things such as the food and services typically purchased by visitors to Macau, which are known to constitute the vast majority of gamblers to its over 30 casinos.

Nine-month figure mounts:

The government agency reportedly moreover explained that the aggregated tourist price index for the nine months to the end of September, which did not include services related to gaming, was 3.28% higher year-on-year following comparable 6.15% and 2.78% swells for the first and second quarters respectively.

Reportedly read a statement from the Statistics and Census Service…

“Meanwhile, seasonal sale of summer clothing and handbags drove down the price index of clothing and footwear by 7.91% quarter-to-quarter.”