The Macao government is set to kick off a new 13-week citywide consumption campaign, which will run from 1 September to 30 November.
Jointly organised by the Economic and Technological Development Bureau (known by its Portuguese initials DSEDT) and the Macao Chamber of Commerce, the event will see a budget increase of 65 percent, from the previous edition’s 295 million patacas (US$37 million) to the current 485 million patacas (US$60.7 million).
At a press conference on Friday, the organisers noted that the consumption drive will continue to adopt the same format as earlier editions. Residents who make an e-wallet payment of 50 patacas or more at a participating business on weekdays will go into a draw for e-vouchers that can be used on the weekends.
Each week, participants can enter up to three draws via their e-wallet app, earning e-vouchers worth between 10 and 200 patacas.
“This temporary measure targets the tourism low season to stimulate the economy – it’s not a permanent policy,” Yau Yun Wah, the head of the DSEDT, was cited as saying. “The investment will trigger a multiplier effect in local consumption, promoting economic activity and ultimately creating a positive cycle that contributes to overall economic growth.”
Much like the previous edition, the upcoming consumption drive will feature card discounts for the elderly, although this initiative has now been expanded to encompass those in the disabled community, of which around 8,000 members are expected to benefit.
Under this discount scheme, eligible individuals will first need to activate the discount function on their Macau Pass senior card or disability care card at any of the roughly 100 service stations in Macao. Afterwards, 500 patacas will be added to the card, which will go towards a 50 percent discount that is calculated whenever the beneficiary makes a purchase with their cards.
[See more: Retail sales are still falling in Macao, but at a slower pace]
Response to the latest consumption campaign has been positive, with one 65-year old resident identified by the surname Lou telling TDM that “everyone” was glad that the upcoming campaign had increased the senior discount from the previous edition’s 300 patacas to 500 patacas.
Meanwhile, Wong Man Long, the head of the supervisory board of the Industry and Commerce Association of Macau, said the upcoming event was “timely assistance” for local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and added that the event would help to improve the operating environment for such businesses.
Wong mentioned that the current consumption drive was three weeks longer than the previous edition. However, he hoped the authorities could expand the e-voucher usage period to include Fridays.
To help shore up the local retail sector, the SAR government has been organising consumption campaigns in recent years. Earlier instalments were held exclusively in areas such as the Northern District, although later editions were expanded to encompass the rest of Macao.
The programme is intended to encourage residents to remain in Macao and spend locally on the weekends rather than venture into mainland China, where prices are cheaper and options are greater.
The previous 10-week consumption drive – the Community Consumption Grand Prix 2025 – was held from 24 March and 1 June, helping to stimulate 1.04 billion patacas (US$128 million) in local spending for more than 20,000 businesses.
