Bangkok--2 Sep--Francom Asia
The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) announced today (1 September) that visitor arrivals in Hong Kong totalled 2,378,298 in July 2009. The table below summarises the arrivals from different market regions:
January — July July
Market Regions 2009 Change vs. 2008 2009 Change vs. 2008
The Americas 888,323 -12.7% 135,945 +1.2%
Europe, Africa and the Middle East 1,089,710 -12.2% 154,973 +2.2%
Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific 392,677 -11.2% 56,398 -8.6%
North Asia 1,000,885 -24.1% 155,121 -15.9%
South and Southeast Asia 1,529,539 -7.0% 201,303 -9.4%
Taiwan 1,132,859 -12.8% 190,293 -11.3%
Mainland China 9,694,665 +1.5% 1,432,740 -13.7%
Total* 16,075,077 -4.9% 2,378,298 -12.2%
* Figure includes arrivals from Macau SAR
July 2009 Visitor Arrivals
The July arrival figure represents a 12.2% decrease on the same month in 2008. The decrease can largely be attributed to the 13.7%-drop in arrivals from Mainland China, as compared with exceptional growth in the corresponding month last year, when many Mainland visitors advanced their trips to Hong Kong before the Olympics.
As for other short-haul regions, the decline since the outbreak of Influenza A H1N1 in May 2009 has narrowed, as consumers’ concerns about the disease have gradually receded. Further boosting the travel sentiments were the attractive offers and tactical packages this summer. Below summarises the arrivals trend since May 2009:
Market Regions May 2009 June 2009 July 2009
North Asia -34.1% -37.2% -15.9%
South and Southeast Asia -20.9% -13.5% -9.4%
Taiwan -16.4% -23.9% -11.3%
Further away in the long-haul regions, most saw positive gain, given the lower base of arrivals last July due to the visa policy adjustment by the Mainland in the run-up to the Olympics. This is exemplified by the increase in arrivals from The Americas, as well as Europe, Africa and the Middle East by 1.2% and 2.2% respectively in July 2009.
Cumulative Arrivals for January-July 2009
For the seven-month period from January to July 2009, total visitor arrivals stood at 16,075,077, 4.9% lower than the same period last year. With the exception of Mainland China, which achieved positive gain of 1.5% in its arrivals year-to-date, all other long- and short-haul markets registered negative growth.
Overnight vs. Same-Day, in-Town Visitors
Overall, some 56.7% of all visitors to Hong Kong in July stayed in the city for at least one night, 2.9 percentage points lower than in the same month last year. The remaining 43.3% same-day in-town visitors either returned home or left for another destination on the same day they arrived.
From January to July 2009, close to 9.17 million or 57.0% of total arrivals stayed in the city for at least one night, compared with 58.4% in the same period last year. The remaining 6.91 million (43.0%) were classified as same-day in-town visitors.
Hotel Occupancy
Hotel occupancy across all categories of hotels in July 2009 was 71%, 18 percentage points lower than in July 2008. The geographic locations with the highest occupancy were Yau Ma Tei and Mong Kok, where hotels recorded an average occupancy rate of 82%. The average achieved hotel room rate across all hotel categories was HK$882, 19.4% lower than in July 2008.
Note:
Visitor arrivals mentioned in this release include both overnight visitors and same-day in-town visitors. According to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), visitors are divided into two categories:
(i) tourists or overnight visitors, if the trip involves an overnight stay; and
(ii) same-day visitors or excursionists, if the trip does not involve an overnight stay.
Media can download the press release from the HKTB’s DiscoverHongKong.com website:
http://www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/about-hktb/press-releases.html
For media enquiries, please contact:
Hong Kong Media
Ms Lisa Chan
Tel: 2807 6173
Fax: 2503 6173
E-mail: [email protected]
Mainland China, Taiwan,
South & Southeast Asia Media
Miss Amy Lam
Tel: 2807 6373
Fax: 2503 6113
E-mail: [email protected]
Long-haul Regions and
North Asia Media
Miss Mayee Tang
Tel: 2807 6239
Fax: 2503 6595
E-mail: [email protected]
During non-office hours, please contact:
Hong Kong media: 8200 7860; Mainland and overseas media: 8100 8935.