The Hong Kong's tourism income increased drastically in 2004. The number of tourists to Hong Kong reached 21.8 million, bringing income worthy of 91.8 billion HK dollars to Hong Kong, the highest record in its history, reported the China News Agency on March 10.

According to a report by "The Central News Agency'' the statistics released by Hong Kong Tourism Board pointed out that the expenditure by tourists to Hong Kong was nearly 20 per cent more than the 2003's figure of 76.8 billion HK dollars. Among the consumption, the expenditure by tourists to Hong Kong reached 69.6 billion HK dollars, more than half of which was by the inland tourists to Hong Kong worthy of 38.6 billion HK dollars.

The board pointed out the average per capita consumption for tourists to Hong Kong was on increase. Take tourists from the United States for example, the average per capita consumption was raised to 5,250 HK dollars from 4,500, ranking the highest among the tourists from all market areas to Hong Kong. However, the average per capita consumption by tourists to Hong Kong from the mainland's inland areas was dropped to 4,478 HK dollars from 6,000.

By People's Daily Online