Bangkok--3 Sep--The Hong Kong Tourism
The Hong Kong Tourism Board announced today (19 August) that visitor arrivals to Hong Kong in July 2010 reached the highest ever single-month level at 3,136,794, a robust increase of 31.9% year-on-year. For the first seven months of this year, total visitor arrivals amounted to 19,992,810, representing a 24.4%-rise compared to the same period last year.
The table below summarises visitor arrivals from different market regions in July and the first seven months in 2010:
July January to July
Market Regions 2010 Vs. 2009 2010 Vs. 2009
Long-haul markets 384,020 +10.6% 2,628,831 +10.9%
The Americas 150,305 +10.6% 986,558 +11.1%
Europe, Africa and the Middle East 171,506 +10.7% 1,211,777 +11.2%
Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific 62,209 +10.3% 430,496 +9.6%
Short-haul markets (excl. Mainland China & Macau) 668,580 +22.3% 4,456,789 +21.7%
North Asia 178,965 +15.4% 1,241,736 +24.1%
South and Southeast Asia 279,556 +38.9% 1,948,855 +27.4%
Taiwan 210,059 +10.4% 1,266,198 +11.8%
Mainland China 2,011,837 +40.4% 12,499,036 +28.9%
Total* 3,136,794 +31.9% 19,992,810 +24.4%
*Total figure includes arrivals from Macau SAR
The arrivals base for comparison this July is relatively lower, given that visitor arrivals in the same month last year were impacted by the human swine flu. Notwithstanding so, the gain in visitor arrivals in July was strongly encouraging, with arrivals surpassing the July 2008 figure by 15.8%.
The growth in overall arrivals in July was led by Mainland China, the arrivals from which exceeded 2 million. The figure was not only 40% more than in last July, but was also the highest monthly figure for the market. This significant growth could be attributed to the fact that summer is a popular travel season among Mainland visitors. In addition, the implementation of measures under the Individual Visit Scheme in Shenzhen has made it easier for Shenzhen residents to visit Hong Kong.
Among other short-haul markets, South and Southeast Asia achieved nearly 40%-increase in arrivals, as there were greater travel sentiments resulting from the improved economic conditions and increased flight capacity. Taiwan also recorded growth of 10.4%, a sign that the effect of direct cross-strait flights is stabilising.
Meanwhile, visitor arrivals from the long-haul markets also grew steadily. Overall arrivals from these markets in July went up by 10.6% compared to the same month last year. As for the emerging markets, Russia, the Middle East and India registered growth of 86.0%, 47.5% and 44.9% respectively, as propelled by such factors as economic recovery and more frequent flights.
Overnight Visitors
In July 2010, overnight visitors exceeded 1.82 million. The figure represented 58.3% of all visitors to Hong Kong and was 35.7% more than in July 2009. The increase was contributed by the rise in overnight visitors from most market regions, especially short-haul markets, such as Taiwan (+46.1%), Mainland China (+44.9%) and South and Southeast Asia (+42.7%).
Cumulatively, between January and July this year, overnight visitors amounted to 11.3 million, or 56.6% of all visitors to Hong Kong, a year-on-year increase of 23.3%.
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
During non-office hours, please contact:
Hong Kong media: 8200 7860; Mainland and overseas media: 8100 8935.