Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that there were 184 travel agencies operating in 2021, a decrease of 16 year-on-year. Number of persons engaged dropped by 985 year-on-year to 2,774. Receipts of the industry inched up by 0.7% year-on-year to MOP2.02 billion, whereas expenditure went down by 1.6% to MOP2.14 billion.
In 2021, receipts of travel agencies from Room Reservation Services (MOP682 million) and Passenger Transport Ticketing (MOP399 million) showed respective year-on-year growth of 18.9% and 21.2%, on account of an increase in demand for travel agency services by visitors and local residents for booking of transport and accommodation. Besides, receipts from Rental of Coaches with Driver (MOP476 million) nudged up by 0.8% year-on-year, while receipts from Package Tours (MOP206 million) fell by 36.7%.
As regards expenditure, Purchase of Goods & Services and Commission increased by 8.2% year-on-year to MOP1.29 billion, of which expenditure on Room Reservation Services (MOP646 million) and Passenger Transport Ticketing (MOP402 million) went up 16.5% and 14.8% respectively; in contrast, expenditure on Package Tours (MOP161 million) decreased by 24.5%. Compensation of Employees totalled MOP423 million, down by 23.4% year-on-year. Operating Expenses edged down by 0.8% year-on-year to MOP422 million.
The industry registered a deficit of MOP119 million in 2021, which has narrowed compared to 2020 (-MOP186 million). Gross Value Added that measures the industry’s contribution to the economy went down by 17.1% year-on-year to MOP303 million. Meanwhile, Gross Fixed Capital Formation of the industry surged by 74.0% year-on-year to MOP41.35 million, attributable to the acquisition of vehicles by travel agencies.
Analysed by size, number of travel agencies with less than 10 persons engaged totalled 119; receipts of these travel agencies were mainly generated from Passenger Transport Ticketing (40.5% of total) and Package Tours (23.6%). Meanwhile, there were 50 travel agencies with 10 to 29 persons engaged and 5 travel agencies with 30 to 49 persons; Room Reservation Services accounted for 59.7% and 58.8% of their receipts respectively. Number of travel agencies with 50 or more persons engaged totalled 10, and 50.8% of their receipts were yielded from Rental of Coaches with Driver.