tourism

Visitor arrivals to Hong Kong increase

Figures released by the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) showed that visitor arrivals in July 2008 reached 2,709,375, 10.4% more than in July 2007.  This brings cumulative arrivals for the first seven months of 2008 to 16,894,879, 9.1% ahead of the same period last year.

In July 2008, mainland China was the best performing of all long- and short-haul market regions, with arrivals growing by 19.4% to 1,660,243.  The majority of international markets, especially the long-haul markets, continued their recent downward trend since June 2008, due to the rising fuel surcharge, global economic slowdown and visa policy adjustment by the Mainland. The summary of visitor arrivals from different market regions:

• Mainland China: 1,660,243 (+19.4%)
• North Asia: 184,375 (+2.4%)
• Taiwan: 214,586 (+0.6%)
• South and Southeast Asia: 222,196 (-3.1%)
• Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific: 61,677 (-3.5%)
• Europe, Africa and the Middle East: 151,709 (-10.8%)
• The Americas: 134,311 (-11.6%)

Out of the total Mainland arrivals in July 2008, 1,014,717 or 61.1% arrived under the Individual Visit Scheme, 26.9% more than in July 2007.  Cumulatively, there were 5,375,050 arrivals under the Individual Visit Scheme in the first seven months of 2008, 15.5% more than for the same period in 2007. 

Hotel occupancy across all categories of hotels in July 2008 was 89%, one percentage point lower year-on-year. The average achieved hotel room rate across all hotel categories was US$140.38 or 6% higher when compared to July 2007.

Earlier figures released by HKTB showed that visitor arrivals to Hong Kong in the first six months of 2008 grew 8.9% to 14,185,504.  The figure includes 2,147,926 arrivals to the city in June, which represents year-on-year growth of 5.6%.

The breakdown on arrivals from different regional source markets in January-June and in June 2008 is as follows:

HKTB Chairman James Tien said that the half-yearly performance is well on track. “Notwithstanding the recent downward trend of international arrivals, as seen in June, which was led by various factors in the macro environment, we remain cautiously optimistic of the outlook and our tourism industry’s performance in the second half of the year,” he remarked.  “Eyeing the pent-up demand and the sustained China fever post-Olympics, the HKTB is already working with travel-trade partners in various long-haul markets, including the U.S. and France, to develop China/Hong Kong combo packages for capturing the visitor traffic.”

Close to 8.26 million or 58.2% of the total arrivals in January-June stayed in the city for at least one night, compared with 60.5% in the same period last year.  The remaining 5.93 million (41.8%) were classified as same-day, in-town visitors.

In June 2008, 58.5% of all visitors stayed in the city for at least one night.  This is one percentage point lower in a year-on-year comparison.  The remaining 41.5% were classified as same-day, in-town visitors, who either returned home or left for another destination on the same day as arrival.

Hotel occupancy across all categories of hotel in January-June 2008 was 83%, unchanged when compared to the first half of 2007.  The average achieved hotel room rate across all hotel categories was US$158.71 or 4.8% higher compared to the same period in 2007.

Hotel occupancy in June 2008 was 81%, one percentage point lower than in June 2007. The geographic location with the highest occupancy rate in June was Tsim Sha Tsui, where hotels recorded an occupancy rate of 84%.  The average achieved hotel room rate across all hotel categories in June was US$144.74 or a year-on-year increase of 5.4%.

Visitors get surprise Fuwa welcome

Fuwa, the official mascots of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, greeted visitors at Hong Kong International Airport.

Visitors to Hong Kong between August 8 and 24 were given an extra special welcome, as the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) arranged for five mega Fuwa — the official mascots of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games — to greet them at Hong Kong International Airport.  The playful and adorable Fuwa, each 3 meters tall, were at the arrival hall between noon and 4 p.m. each day, posing for photographs and spreading the city’s good wishes to visitors.

During this period, the HKTB also arranged for the distribution of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Hong Kong Activities Guide at major ports of entry.  The guide provides helpful information on the Olympic-related activities in town.  Another handy guide will be the Hong Kong Summer Temptations What’s On, which gives visitors great ideas for exploring Hong Kong’s diverse attractions, as well as a host of dining and shopping privileges.