Michelin dining guide for Hong Kong published
Hong Kong Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Rita Lau welcomed the release of the Michelin dining guide in Hong Kong December 2.
“I am very pleased that Hong Kong has become one of the first Michelin cities in China,” said Mrs. Lau. “The release of the Michelin guide is further recognition of Hong Kong's reputation as a center for gastronomy.”
Michelin Guide Hong Kong Macau 2009 is the first bilingual Michelin guide. It includes 202 establishments in Hong Kong, with 22 of them receiving one or more Michelin stars. The guide also acknowledged 24 Hong Kong restaurants with the Bib Gourmand distinction, recognizing these establishments for offering a high-quality dining experience at an affordable price.
“Building on the momentum given by the removal of wine duty since February and the opportunities brought by the release of the Michelin guide in Hong Kong, we will, through the Hong Kong Tourism Board, work to further enhance Hong Kong’s status as a capital for fine wine and good food,” said Mrs. Lau.
The Hong Kong Tourism Board also said it would make use of Michelin Guide Hong Kong Macau 2009 to step up promotion of Hong Kong as a prime destination for fine wine and gastronomic delights in order to further stimulate visitors' interest in coming to Hong Kong.
Hong Kong WinterFest begins
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The 2008 Hong Kong WinterFest launched on November 28 with the return of the giant Christmas tree to Central. |
The 2008 Hong Kong WinterFest, organized by the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), officially started November 28 and will last through January 4, 2009. This year, the giant Christmas tree has made a return to Central, enhancing the festive atmosphere in the city.
Officiating at the launch ceremony were Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Rita Lau; HKTB Chairman James Tien; and Y.K. Pang, Chief Executive of Hongkong Land, the presenting sponsor of the Christmas tree.
During the WinterFest period, visitors and local residents can enjoy an array of celebratory programs, dining, shopping and hotel offers, as well as rewards programs by local trade partners. The HKTB already has invited more than 100 local volunteering organizations to help spread the Christmas message. Riding on antique trams, open-top buses and themed trucks, the groups will present Christmas gospel performances in various tourist areas. Santa Claus also will welcome visitors at major ports of entry so that they can experience Hong Kong’s winter celebrations upon arrival.
October visitor arrivals fell 1.4%
Figures released by the Hong Kong Tourism Board showed that visitor arrivals in October 2008 reached 2,532,740 or 1.4% less than in October 2007. This brings cumulative arrivals for January-October 2008 to 24,301,551, 6% ahead of the same period last year. The summary of visitor arrivals from different market regions are:
- Taiwan: 194,925 (+5.4%)
- Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific: 79,849 (+4.8%)
- North Asia: 173,939 (+2.3%)
- Mainland China: 1,373,910 (+1.1%)
- South and Southeast Asia: 269,075 (-5.3%)
- Europe, Africa and the Middle East: 218,383 (-12.2%)
- The Americas: 165,300 (-15.3%)
As for the individual markets, Russia continued to record positive gain, with arrivals up 11%. Arrivals from New Zealand and Australia also rose 11.8% and 3.8% respectively, with many visitors coming to Hong Kong for the Bledisloe Cup rugby match in late October.
Of the total Mainland arrivals in October 2008, 56.2% arrived under the Individual Visit Scheme. This is 1.9% higher than in October 2007. Cumulatively, there were 7,917,026 arrivals under the Individual Visit Scheme in the first 10 months of 2008 or a 12.4% year-on-year increase.
Overall, about 58.6% of all visitors to Hong Kong in October stayed in the city for at least one night, 0.5 percentage point lower compared to the same month last year. The remaining 41.4% same-day in-town visitors either returned home or left for another destination on the same day as arrival.
Hotel occupancy across all categories of hotels in October 2008 reached 85%, four percentage points lower than in October 2007. The average achieved hotel room rate across all hotel categories was US$183.2, 6.8% lower compared to October 2007.
Airline passenger fuel surcharges lowered
On November 24, the Civil Aviation Department (CAD) of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region gave approval for passenger fuel surcharges levied by four airlines (All Nippon Airways, Cathay Pacific Airways, Nepal Airlines and Singapore Airlines) to be reduced for the period from December 1, 2008, to January 31, 2009.
The new maximum levels of fuel surcharges will be US$13.84 for short-haul flights and US$63.97 for long-haul flights, which represent reductions of 45% and 40% from the current maximum levels for short-haul flights and long-haul flights respectively.
It is an international practice for airlines to levy passenger fuel surcharges. The current average passenger fuel surcharges at other major international destinations are at levels of about US$52.94 per passenger for short-haul flights and about US$161.02 per passenger for long-haul flights.
A CAD spokesman said: “When compared with the average amounts of surcharges at international level, the surcharges on the local routes remain at a lower level.”
When dealing with the latest applications for levying fuel surcharges, the CAD has been consistent in regard to changes in the prices of aviation fuel, the justifications provided by the airline operators and other relevant factors such as the charges levied by other airlines. This approach has been followed uniformly in dealing with fuel surcharge applications (which are submitted every two months), regardless of whether the oil prices are on the increase or decrease.
The CAD spokesman explained, “The CAD has taken into account the need to safeguard the interest of the traveling public as well as the need for airline operators to recoup their costs. When approving fuel surcharges, the CAD will ensure that the revenue generated will not exceed the additional costs borne by the airline operators due to increased fuel prices during the corresponding period.”
Passenger fuel surcharges are reviewed and adjusted regularly by the CAD. The last review was done at the end of September when the maximum surcharge levels approved by the CAD were US$25.12 for short-haul flights and US$106.66 for long-haul flights.
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