HK prepares for new round of tourism boom

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, December 12, 2003

HK prepares for new round of tourism boom

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An estimated of 2 million tourists are expected to visit Hong Kong around the Christmas and New Year holidays and Hong Kong's tourism sectors are busily making preparations and do not want to lose another rare opportunity following the National Day holidays or the "golden week."

Tourism-related sectors have already begun their advertising, sales promotion and increasing staff for greeting the final tourism peak in the year.

Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), expecting 9.1 billion HK dollars (1.17 billion US dollars) of revenue from the tourism-related sectors during the Christmas and New Year period, has already kicked off Hong Kong Winter Fest on Nov. 28.

The HKTB has promoted Hong Kong Winter Fest globally and received warm response from tourism sectors in the Chinese mainland, Japan, South Korea, Southeast Asian countries and the United States.

The HKTB has also invited personnel from international tourism circle and international media to help its tourism promotion.

Visitors to Hong Kong can enjoy a galaxy of events such as the World Carnival at Tamar, Hong Kong Jockey Club's international horse races on Dec. 14.

James Lu, executive director of Hong Kong Hotel Association, said in an telephone interview with Xinhua earlier this week that the booking of hotel rooms in the next two months showed that the year of 2004 would have a bright future for Hong Kong tourism.

"Hong Kong's hotel sector has felt the great positive impact on tourism from the signing of the Chinese mainland/Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) and the allowing of citizens from a number of mainland big cities to visit Hong Kong on individual bases."

To keep a healthy growth of Hong Kong's tourism, the hotel sector has agreed to maintain the hotel room prices to last year's level, instead of hikes for surging of tourists, Lu said.

The five-star JW Marriott Hotel Hong Kong has witnessed a 17 percent growth of mainland passengers in November over the same month last year. To attract more mainland passengers, the hotel has joined efforts with several major airliners and travel agencies of the mainland and Hong Kong, to offer very "reasonable" hotel room prices for passengers during the Christmas and New Year period.

Expecting an increase of 20 percent of business volume during the coming holiday period, Hong Kong's retail sectors, especially big department stores, have put a considerable investment on Christmas trees and lights.

A 12-storey Christmas Wishing Tree was transferred to the "Christmas Wonderland" at Statue Square in the island's central part, and huge Christmas trees can be spot in nearly every big department stores, such as the Pacific Plaza and Times Square. The Christmas trees and other festival decorations have become new scenic spots that attract both tourists and local residents.

Taking photos with the beautiful trees of various kinds have been the choices of many consumers to Hong Kong's big department stores after shopping.

SOGO at Causeway Bay has already put advertisement on its front door -- accumulated purchase of every 500 HK dollars ( 64.4 US dollars) in the same day entitles a customer to one Lucky Draw Ticket to win prizes.

SOGO claims that 10 top prize winners can obtain Japan hot spring tour for two persons and each of the 10 second prize winners will be offered a SONY digital camera.

The department store will extend its business hours to 11:00 p.m. during the Christmas and New Year holidays period from the original 10:00 p.m.

As for Times Square, holders of VISA cards issued in the Chinese mainland can take part in instant Win Lucky Draw for presenting a VISA receipt with a spending of a certain amount of Hong Kong dollars in Times Square shops or restaurants.

Fabulous prizes will include round-trip air-tickets, Lane Crawford silver necklace and shopping coupons.

Times Square will also have New Year eve "Apple Countdown." Famous Hong Kong singers will be invited to give performances at the square.

As a major gate to Hong Kong, the international airport here will add more world top brands shops in mid-December. Prada, Tiffany, Baccarat, Ralph Lauren and Christian Dior, which have not opened any airport shops in other world places, will respectively open their first airport shops at Hong Kong International Airport.

Later on, Longchamp, Swatch, Gucci, Chanel, Hermes and several other world brands will also open shops at Hong Kong International Airport.

Passengers spend 500 HK dollars (64 US dollars) or more on a purchase in one day will get 500 Asia miles.

Airport Authority Commercial Director Han Bakker said Wednesday that "this Christmas is a very special one to all of us. Not only do we have a very rewarding promotion with Asia Miles and many unique special offers from our operators, we are very excited at the opening of another 15 brand boutiques in three days."

So far, a wide range of Christmas hampers have been prepared by a number of five-star hotels to cater the needs of customers. The Peninsular, which is celebrating its 75 years anniversary, has a special hamper with bottles of champagne and red wine, boxes of chocolates and cookies, CD and some other items prized at 3,888 HK dollars (501 US dollars).

Reports from Shenzhen, Shanghai and Beijing said the cities have witnessed a surge of applications for individual visits to Hong Kong and shopping in the "Shopping Paradise" will be the main purpose of a big percentage of tourists.

A survey of the market research firm Synovate indicated that tourists from the mainland are planning to spend more money in Hong Kong and on average, they will stay for four days and spend 8,700 HK dollars (1,121 US dollars).

Tourist arrivals to Hong Kong reached nearly 1.7 million in October, a record monthly number for Hong Kong.

HKTB statistics indicated that 878,000 Chinese mainland tourists visited Hong Kong in October, accounting for half of all tourists to Hong Kong and 31.2 percent up over the same month last year.

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