Visitor arrivals increase 3.5%
Figures released by the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) show that visitor arrivals in September 2008 reached 2,194,840, a 3.5% year-on-year increase. This brings cumulative arrivals for the first nine months of 2008 to 21,768,811, or 6.9% ahead of the same period last year.
The growth in September 2008 is mainly driven by the short-haul regions, as positive increases were registered for mainland China (+10.0%) and South and Southeast Asia (+5.3%). In particular, Mainland arrivals during the National Day Golden Week holiday period, which fell in end-September this year, contributed to the double-digit increase for the market. As for the long-haul market regions, they sustained their downward trend, as the impact of the Mainland visa policy adjustment continued and the global economic conditions worsened. The summary of visitor arrivals from different market regions:
- Mainland China: 1,249,545 (+10.0%)
- South and Southeast Asia: 212,809 (+5.3%)
- Taiwan: 184,262 (+2.2%)
- North Asia: 176,044 (-4.1%)
- Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific: 69,304 (-5.8%)
- The Americas: 113,862 (-13.1%)
- Europe, Africa and the Middle East: 139,730 (-16.4%)
Out of the total Mainland arrivals in September, 689,891 or 55.2% arrived under the Individual Visit Scheme. This is 19% higher compared to September 2007. Cumulatively, there were 7,144,533 arrivals under the Individual Visit Scheme in the first nine months of 2008, or a 13.7% year-on-year increase.
Overall, about 56.3% of all visitors to Hong Kong in September stayed in the city for at least one night, two percentage points lower compared to the same month last year. The remaining 43.7% 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 September reached 79%, two percentage points lower than in September 2007. The average achieved hotel room rate across all hotel categories was US$157.43, 3.1% lower compared to September 2007.
Hong Kong-Shenzhen Airports Link launched
Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) and Shenzhen International Airport (SZIA) jointly launched the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Airports Link, a service that enables passengers at HKIA or SZIA to check in and obtain boarding passes for connecting flights at either airport.
The service was successfully soft-launched in August 2008.
As part of the service, passengers who have checked in at HKIA or SZIA can relax in designated waiting lounges for cross-boundary coaches to take them to their connecting flights at the counterpart airport every 30 minutes. Lounges are equipped with flight information displays showing the latest flight information.
Chief Executive Officer of Airport Authority Hong Kong Stanley Hui thanked the Hong Kong and Shenzhen governments for their support, saying, “This strategic collaboration combines the complementary strengths of HKIA’s comprehensive international network with SZIA’s extensive domestic coverage. It also provides a more frequent, comfortable and convenient land transportation service for passengers travelling between the two airports.”
Passengers flying with the participating airlines can enjoy the new service and complete their check-in procedures before taking cross-boundary coaches to the counterpart airports. More airlines are expected to join the service soon.
Self-service airline check-in kiosks debut
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Self check-in kiosks are now available for use in Terminal 1 of Hong Kong International Airport. |
Passengers of Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) can now complete their airline check-in process in as little as one minute by using one of the 42 self check-in kiosks available at Terminal 1.
The self check-in system, a US$2.3 million investment, is part of the Airport Authority’s ongoing efforts to enhance passenger flow and to accommodate the worldwide trend of increasing passenger demand for self-help service.
There are only three steps involved in using the kiosks:
- Scan a valid travel/ticketing document (Travel or ticketing documents suitable for verification include passport, Home Visit Permit, e-ticket, frequent flyer membership card and credit card) or input e-ticket number;
- Select a seat if one has not already been assigned. Change seat if needed; and
- Check accuracy and print a boarding pass.
Travelers may also update their travel reward program during the process.
Passengers carrying only hand luggage can then proceed directly to immigration, while those with check-in luggage may drop their bag(s) at the Bag Drop Counter located just steps away from the kiosks.
Currently, six airlines are using these kiosks for passenger check-in: Air Canada, Cathay Pacific Airways, China Airlines, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Dragonair and Northwest Airlines. These airlines handle about half of the originating passengers at HKIA. The kiosks are located at the airlines’ corresponding check-in aisles in Terminal 1.
The self check-in system at HKIA has been developed in accordance with the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) common-use, self-service (CUSS) standard, one of IATA’s initiatives to streamline business processes and make travel more convenient for passengers by leveraging advanced technologies. The CUSS standard allows multiple airlines to offer check-in service using the same kiosks.
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