Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) data indicates that receipts of travel agencies amounted to MOP6.50 billion in 2015, down 10.6 per cent year-on-year. Receipts from Package Tours increased by 7.6 per cent, while receipts from Passenger Transport Ticketing and Room Reservations (MOP1.09 billion) decreased by 17.9 and 31.6 per cent, respectively, owing to the growing popularity of online booking for hotel rooms, air tickets, resulting in a year-on-year decline in receipts for the industry. Receipts for restaurants and similar establishments grew by 4.6 per cent year-on-year to MOP10.04 billion in 2015, attributable to an increase in the number of restaurants, eating and drinking establishments.

A total of 250 travel agencies were operating in 2015, an increase of 13 year-on-year. The number of persons engaged rose by 343 year-on-year to 4,545, of whom drivers (1,404) accounted for 30.9 per cent.

Expenditure of travel agencies amounted to MOP6.21 billion, down by 9.5 per cent year-on-year. Purchase of Goods & Services and Commission Paid decreased by 13.9 per cent to MOP4.76 billion (76.7 per cent of total), while Operating Expenses (MOP750 million) and Compensation of Employees (MOP700 million) increased by 7.1 per cent and 10.8 per cent, respectively.

Gross Value Added - measuring the sector's contribution to the economy - amounted to MOP1 billion, down 4.8 per cent year-on-year. Gross Surplus of travel agencies decreased by 28.5 per cent year-on-year to MOP300 million, while the Gross Surplus Ratio dropped by 1.1 percentage points to 4.6 per cent. Meanwhile, Gross Fixed Capital Formation decreased by 35.1 per cent to MOP160 million owing to a decrease in acquisition of shops.

Moreover, the expenditure of the catering industry went up by 8.3 per cent to MOP9.87 billion; the number of restaurants and similar establishments increased by 172 year-on-year to 2,284. Gross Value Added to the economy rose 0.3 per cent year-on-year to MOP3.62 billion. Gross Fixed Capital Formation grew 30.3 per cent to MOP510 million.

The number of restaurants, food and beverage establishments increased by 166 year-on-year to 2,209. Receipts (MOP10.01 billion) and expenditure (MOP9.85 billion) grew by 4.6 and 8.3 per cent, respectively, year-on-year. Analysed by type of restaurant, food and beverage establishment, local-style cafes and congee & noodle shops (920) accounted for 41.6 per cent of the total, followed by Chinese restaurants at 25.5 per cent (563).

With an increase of 105 shops, receipts and expenditure of local-style cafes and congee & noodle shops expanded by 22.1 and 28.1 per cent, respectively, year-on-year to account for the largest share among all types of establishment. Meanwhile, both receipts and expenditure of fast food restaurants recorded 12.7 per cent year-on-year growth.