Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that there were 176 travel agencies operating in 2022, a decrease of 8 year-on-year. Number of persons engaged dropped by 588 year-on-year to 2,204. Receipts and expenditure of the industry amounted to MOP1.60 billion and MOP1.69 billion respectively, down by 19.8% and 20.3% year-on-year.

Receipts of travel agencies from Room Reservation Services (MOP552 million) and Passenger Transport Ticketing (MOP233 million) fell by 17.1% and 40.1% year-on-year respectively, dragged down by a decline in the relevant demand from visitors and local residents. Besides, receipts from Rental of Coaches with Driver (MOP439 million) went down by 11.3% year-on-year, while receipts from Package Tours (MOP193 million) rose by 2.5%.

As regards expenditure, Purchase of Goods & Services and Commission dropped by 20.8% year-on-year to MOP1.00 billion, of which expenditure on Room Reservation Services (MOP546 million) and Passenger Transport Ticketing (MOP217 million) fell 13.6% and 44.7% respectively; in contrast, expenditure on Package Tours (MOP176 million) increased by 18.2%. Compensation of Employees and Operating Expenses totalled MOP382 million and MOP308 million respectively, down by 9.8% and 29.3% year-on-year.

The industry registered a deficit of MOP90.77 million in 2022, an improvement compared to 2021 (-MOP127 million). Gross Value Added that measures the industry’s contribution to the economy went down by 1.7% year-on-year to MOP292 million. Meanwhile, Gross Fixed Capital Formation of the industry tumbled by 88.9% year-on-year to MOP5.16 million.

Analysed by size, there were 124 travel agencies with less than 10 persons engaged, 41 with 10 to 29 persons, and 5 with 30 to 49 persons; Room Reservation Services, the main source of receipts, accounted for 41.7%, 55.1% and 46.3% of their respective totals. Number of travel agencies with 50 or more persons engaged totalled 6, and 63.9% of their receipts came from Rental of Coaches with Driver.