Hong Kong visitor numbers soar

Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) first quarter results for 2012 indicate visitor arrivals to Hong Kong exceeded 11.22 million, up 15.6 percent from last year.

According to HKTB half of the 11.22 million visitor arrivals were overnight arrivals, up 8.6 percent from the same period last year.

The best performing market region continues to be Mainland China which in the first quarter of 2012 climbed up by 21.1 percent to 7,895,453 of which 44 percent accounted for overnight arrivals, up 10.4 percent from last year.

HKTB Chairman Mr James Tien said despite the volatile global economic environment, the region had enjoyed an increase in Mainland, short-haul and long-haul arrivals.

“The number of overnight arrivals also went up by 8.6percent, with 10percent-increase for Mainland China and even 20percent-increase for South Korea and the Philippines,” Mr Tien said.

“Looking ahead, we expect the growth momentum to sustain into the second quarter of the year.

“The HKTB is already gearing up for an exciting series of programmes this summer to draw even more visitors to Hong Kong.”

Australian, New Zealand and South Pacific quarterly arrivals went up by 3.3 percent to 186,176, while overnight arrivals went up by five percent.

HKTB attributed the increase from Australia and New Zealand to both the Hong Kong Sevens and the strong Aussie dollar.

For the Americas, overall arrivals to Hong Kong went up by 1.6 percent to 426,662, while overnight arrivals grew by 1.5 percent.