Olympic Piazza launched
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Hong Kong Chief Secretary for Administration Henry Tang (center) officiates July 25 at the opening ceremony of the Hong Kong Olympic Piazza in Tsim Sha Tsui. Other officiating guests include (from left): President of the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong Timothy Fok, Hong Kong Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs Carrie Yau, HKTB Chairman James Tien and Chief Executive Officer of the Equestrian Events (Hong Kong) of the Games of the XXIX Olympiad Lam Woon-kwong. |
On July 25, the Hong Kong Tourism Board unveiled the “Hong Kong Olympic Piazza” at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre. It is hoped the piazza, along with the Olympic rings structure on the façade of the Hong Kong Museum of Art, creates a strong Olympic atmosphere in Tsim Sha Tsui, the popular tourist district.
The Olympic Piazza, which provides dynamic entertainment and information, is open to visitors free of charge through August 24. Besides various Olympic-themed decorations such as a Fuwa lantern display and medal-presentation podium, which provide excellent backdrops for photos, the piazza is equipped with a range of facilities and displays about the Olympics and local attractions. Olympic competitions will be broadcast on the world’s largest plasma TV and other big TV screens, as well as on the façade of the Cultural Centre, which will be turned into a 22-meter projection screen.
Some key features of the piazza are the lighting trail and a mock-up of the National Aquatics Centre — a.k.a. “Water Cube” — and spectacular light shows every night. Parades that showcase Hong Kong’s vibrancy and traditional Chinese culture are held weekend afternoons.
The Olympic Piazza can accommodate up to 3,000 people at one time. For security and traffic management reasons, tickets are required for entry. Tickets are distributed outside the venue one hour in advance of each session, and each person receives up to four tickets. All visitors must submit to security-check procedures, and no food or drink is allowed. Visitors can refer to the regulations printed on the back of their tickets as well as those posted at the entrance of the piazza.
May visitor arrivals hit 2.3 million
Visitor arrivals to Hong Kong reached 2,342,146 in May, a 6.3% year-on-year increase, according to the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB). This brings cumulative arrivals for the first five months of 2008 to 12,037,578, or 9.5% ahead of the same period last year.
Almost all long- and short-haul market regions recorded positive growth in May. The proportion of arrivals from mainland China vs. those from all other market regions remained steady from 2007 at 55:45. Arrivals from the various market regions were:
- North Asia: 192,586 (+13.6%)
- South and Southeast Asia: 278,138 (+9.9%)
- Taiwan: 177,028 (+7.4%)
- Mainland China: 1,290,806 (+6.4%)
- Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific: 62,216 (+4.6%)
- Americas: 139,616 (+0.6%)
- Europe, Africa and the Middle East: 154,253 (-4.2%)
Among various individual source markets, South Korea achieved the highest growth rate at 32.6%. Arrivals from the emerging markets of India and Russia gained 32.2% and 14.2%, respectively.
Of the total Mainland arrivals, 54.4% arrived under the Individual Visit Scheme, a 3.6% year-on-year increase. Cumulatively, there were 3,744,702 arrivals under the Individual Visit Scheme in the first five months of 2008, a 12.5% year-on-year increase.
In May, approximately 58.4% of all visitors to Hong Kong stayed in the city at least one night, 2.3% less than the previous year. The remaining 41.6% either returned home or left for another destination the same day as arrival.
Hotel occupancy across all categories of hotels in May was 81%, similar to May 2007. The average achieved hotel room rate across all hotel categories was US$146.15, or 3.5% higher than a year earlier.
Cathay Pacific revises baggage rules
Cathay Pacific Airways has adjusted the Free Baggage Allowance for economy-class passengers traveling to North America. There is no change in the allowance for those traveling in first or business class or for passengers traveling to other destinations.
For economy-class tickets issued on or after July 21, the maximum weight allowed for each checked-in bag flying to North America has been revised from 32 kg (70 pounds) to 23 kilograms (50 pounds), with a maximum of two bags per passenger. The same weight allowance applies to infants traveling at 10% of the applicable adult fare and not occupying a seat, though only one bag is allowed.
A flat fee for each 23-32 kg bag is now US$25. For bags weighing more than 32 kg, previous excess baggage charges for each additional piece apply.
The allowable size for each piece of baggage carried by an economy-class passenger to North America remains unchanged at 158 cm (62 inches) in any combination of the three dimensions. The three dimensions for infant luggage must not exceed 115 cm (45 inches).
More details on the free baggage allowance for Cathay Pacific flights can be found on its Web site.
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