Information from the Statistics and Census Service indicated that in 2004, there were 130 travel agencies in operation, up by 8 establishments compared with 2003. Benefited with the further relaxation of the Individual Visit Scheme in Mainland China and the opening of new casinos, significant increases were recorded in the number of visitor arrivals and outbound travel of Macao residents, while business operation of the travel agencies in 2004 was comparatively better than 2003. For instance, sales and other receipts (MOP 1.863 billion), gross value added (MOP 145 million) and gross fixed capital formation (MOP 58.43 million) showed increases of 37.3%, 0.9% and 143.1% respectively. Total number of persons engaged in the industry was 1,413 as at the end of 2004, up 12.4% over the preceding year; among them 1,351 (95.6%) were paid employees. Expenditure of the travel agencies in 2004 amounted to MOP 1.823 billion, a remarkable growth of 40.1% over 2003. In terms of expenditure items, payment for the purchase of tickets, package tours and room reservation took a predominant share of 87.4% of the total, with MOP 1.593 billion; operating expenses and compensation of employees accounted for MOP 121 million and MOP 107 million, which increased by 39.4%, 75.6% and 20.2% compared with 2003 respectively.
Is there anything wrong with this page?