Information from the Statistics and Census Service indicated that in light of the operation of large-scale hotels and gaming facilities, visitor arrivals in package tours continued to grow, together with the increasing number of residents travelling outbound, the overall business performance of the travel agencies recorded satisfactory growth in 2006. There were 145 travel agencies in operation, up by 7 establishments compared with 2005. Sales & other receipts totalled MOP2.41 billion, corresponding to a year-on-year increase of 16.2%; gross fixed capital formation soared by 79.7% to MOP97.1 million. In addition, gross value added, which measures the economic contribution of the sector, rose by 9.9% to MOP239 million. Number of persons engaged in travel agencies was 1,743 at the end of 2006, up by 11.2% year-on-year. Expenditure of the travel agencies amounted to MOP2.31 billion, an increase of 17.1% over 2005. In terms of expenditure items, payment for the purchase of tickets, package tours, room reservation (MOP2.03 billion) accounted for 87.7% of the total, up by 16.7% year-on-year; besides, operating expenses (MOP140 million) and compensation of employees (MOP140 million) surged by 20.1% and 20.4% respectively.
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