Information from the Statistics and Census Service indicated that there were 169 travel agencies operating in 2009, up by 14 over 2008. Sales & Other Receipts of travel agencies decreased slightly by 1.0% from 2008 to MOP3.58 billion; Gross Fixed Capital Formation fell notably by 45.2% year-on-year to MOP38.44 million; however, Gross Value Added that measures the sectoral contribution to the economy rose by 7.5% to MOP508 million. At the end of 2009, a total of 2,864 persons were engaged in travel agencies, an increase of 2.1% year-on-year. Expenditure of travel agencies totalled MOP3.40 billion, down by 1.6% over 2008, among the expenditure items, Purchase of Goods & Services for Sale (including tickets, package tours and room reservation) amounted to MOP2.83 billion and Operating Expenses amounted to MOP227 million, down by 2.1% and 4.5% respectively over 2008; meanwhile, Compensation of Employees rose by 4.4% to MOP335 million.
