Information from the Statistics and Census Service indicated that there were 177 travel agencies operating in 2010, up by 8 from 2009. At the end of 2010, a total of 3,034 persons were engaged in travel agencies, an increase of 6% year-on-year. Attributable to a continuous increase in inbound package tours and outbound travel of Macao residents, business performance of the travel agencies saw remarkable growth in 2010, of which Sales & Other Receipts soared by 33% year-on-year to MOP 4.74 billion, including receipts of MOP 51.91 million (1% of total) from on-line business. Expenditure of travel agencies totalled MOP 4.55 billion, up by 34% over 2009. Analyzed by expenditure items, Purchase of Goods & Services (including tickets, package tours and room reservation) reached MOP 3.92 billion, up significantly by 38% from 2009, of which Purchase of air, train and ferry tickets amounted to MOP 1.59 billion. Besides, Operating Expenses (MOP 257 million) and Compensation of Employees (MOP 368 million) rose by 14% and 10% respectively over 2009. In 2010, Gross Fixed Capital Formation of the travel agencies surged by 55% over 2009 to MOP 59.57 million. Gross Value Added that measures the sectoral contribution to the economy increased by 10% year-on-year to MOP 562 million.
