HK's Tourist Arrivals Continue to Rise in MayThe strong growth in tourism to Hong Kong continued in May when arrivals reached 1,069,168, up 18. 1 percent over the same period of last year, according to the Hong KongTourist Association (HKTA) Thursday.The total number of tourist arrivals for the first five months of 2000 is 5,178,936, the HKTA added. The buoyant situation is reflected in hotel occupancy figures, which averaged 81 percent in May for all categories of accommodation, compared to 76 percent a year ago. The average occupancy rate for the first five months of 2000 is 82 percent, up form 78 percent in the same period of 1999. Virtually every market recorded a strong growth last month, said HKTA. Topping the list was South Korea, which registered a year-on-year increase of 39.2 percent, fueled by a strong economy and a successful special promotion by HKTA, Cathay Pacific Airways and wholesalers. The Chinese mainland remains Hong Kong's biggest source market, accounting for almost a third of all visitors in May and showing a 27.9 percent increase in numbers over the same month last year. In commenting on the May figures, HKTA Executive Director Amy Chan said Hong Kong is well and truly back on the world map as a top travel destination. "Our marketing of the lesser known treasures of Hong Kong is giving leisure visitors new reasons to come, while our improving economy is attracting many more business visitors who also see Hong Kong as the natural gateway to the Chinese mainland and the rest of Asia," she explained. |
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