Hong Kong visitor arrivals for 2012 show strong growth
Hong Kong : The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) announced that visitor arrivals to Hong Kong recorded between January and September 2012 increased 16.3% year-on-year to reach 35.37 million. Of these, 17.41 million were overnight arrivals, 6.8% more than last year, while the number of overnight vacationers rose 7.9%.
Commenting on the performance, HKTB Chairman The Hon James Tien said: “Despite the uncertain global economic environment, which has impacted overall business arrivals and the performance of individual markets, total visitor arrivals to Hong Kong showed double-digit growth in the first three quarters of this year. Besides benefiting from the growth in the Mainland market, we are also seeing increase in vacation arrivals from both short-haul and long-haul market regions, with growth rates for North Asia and Europe, for instance, reaching 12.5% and 7.5% respectively.
“For the Mainland market, overnight arrivals went up more than 10% in the first three quarters. In particular, the number of overnight vacationers increased 12.3%, with those from non-Guangdong areas up almost 24%. In recent years, the HKTB has intensified its promotion in non-Southern China. Of the marketing resources allocated for the Mainland market, the HKTB has invested over 75% on non-Southern China, so that we can open new visitor sources in second- and third-tier cities. Indeed, between 2009 and 2011, the compound average growth rate of overnight vacationers from non-Guangdong cities reached 35%, as compared to 15% of Guangdong Province. The spending by the non-Guangdong visitors is also higher, exceeding HK$12,000 per capita in the first half of 2012, as compared to some HK$5,000 by visitors from Guangdong.
“Looking into the fourth quarter, we expect the steady growth to sustain, and that we can achieve the yearly target of 44 million arrivals. The HKTB will continue its strategy of diversifying the visitor portfolio and roll out a series of mega events to enhance Hong Kong’s appeal and international exposure.” -HKTB
