Macao’s new 13-week long consumption campaign, which will run from 1 September to 30 November, is expected to drive Macao’s stable economic recovery during what is traditionally an off-peak season for the local tourism industry.
Such remarks were made by Lau Kit Lon, the director of the Economic and Technological Development Bureau’s industry and commerce division, during yesterday’s Macao Forum radio programme.
The campaign – co-organised by the government and the Macao Chamber of Commerce – will operate in much the same way as past iterations, although its budget has been raised from the last iteration’s 295 million patacas (US$37 million) to the present 485 million patacas (US$60.7 million).
Residents can participate in three weekly draws for e-vouchers whenever they make an e-wallet payment of 50 patacas or more at a participating merchant. The vouchers – valued from 10 to 200 patacas – can subsequently be redeemed on the weekends.
To highlight the efficacy of the consumption scheme, Lau cited a study, which found that roughly 73 percent of residents who shop in the mainland said they would consider remaining in Macao more frequently as a result of the initiative.
The same study found that roughly 40 percent of local respondents were inclined to make additional purchases in light of the campaign.
[See more: Macao is launching a fresh citywide consumption drive next month]
As well, the authorities expect the latest consumption drive to generate a similar amount of spending as the previous edition, which had a consumption rate of 1.04 billion patacas (US$129 million).
Past editions of the scheme were also said to have boosted local consumption by around 20 percent over the weekend, with the usage rate for the 200-pataca e-vouchers reaching 93 percent.
Like the last edition, the upcoming consumption scheme will feature discounts for seniors, although this has now been expanded to include disabled individuals. The discounts of 500 patacas (up from the previous 300 patacas) can be redeemed via a Macau Pass senior card or disability care card, and go towards a 50 percent price reduction whenever the cardholder makes a purchase.
Some 8,000 disabled persons are expected to be eligible for the care card, with the Social Welfare Bureau’s Cheok Lai Hio stating during yesterday’s radio show that some 2,750 disabled persons had already registered for the card. Meanwhile, the government has coordinated with over 40 local rehabilitation service organisations to assist the disabled with registration.
Response to the consumption drive has been positive, with one local business owner telling TDM that the measure would encourage more residents to spend in Macao rather than heading over to the mainland, where prices are more competitive and variety is greater.
However, one local resident said she hoped the e-vouchers could be redeemed on weekdays, as it “forces people to do their shopping” on the weekend. The interviewee also mentioned the need to expand the coverage of the scheme to include supermarkets, as “many residents wish to use the vouchers at supermarkets.”
