Information from the Statistics and Census Service indicated that the Tourist Price Index (TPI) for the first quarter of 2008 was 145.79, up by 15.08% year-on-year. The price indices of Miscellaneous goods, Restaurant services and Accommodation registered significant increase of 33.75%, 19.52% and 13.34% respectively. The increments were attributable to dearer jewellery prices driven by rising gold prices, as well as higher charges of restaurant services and hotel room rates during the Lunar New Year holidays.

Compared with the fourth quarter of 2007, TPI rose by 6.92% in this quarter, with notable increase in the indices of Miscellaneous goods (+16.97%) and Restaurant services (+6.71%); meanwhile, price index of Entertainment & culture increased by 3.32% owing to rising prices of fireworks and firecrackers during the Lunar New Year holidays. The average TPI for the last 4 quarters ended the first quarter of 2008 increased by 10.86% over the previous period.

TPI reflects the price changes of goods and services purchased by visitors, which is compiled based on the consumption pattern of visitors derived from the Visitor Expenditure Survey. TPI covers 8 sections of goods and services, namely Food, alcoholic drinks & tobacco; Clothing & footwear; Accommodation; Restaurant service; Transport & communications; Medicine & personal goods; Entertainment & culture; and Miscellaneous goods. The base year of TPI is from July 1999 to June 2000.