HK's tourist arrivals top 2.06 mln in November

The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) announced here Thursday that visitor numbers to Hong Kong exceeded 2.06 million in November 2005, a 5.6 percent year-on-year increase over 2004.

Cumulative arrivals for the first 11 months of 2005 ended the month above 21 million, a 7.3 percent more than in previous year, it said.

According to HKTB, long-haul markets led the arrivals growth, with Europe, Africa and the Middle East rising by 20.3 percent, followed by Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific rising by 14.8 percent and the Americas rising by 10.9 percent, while double-digit growth was also seen from South and Southeast Asia rising 10.5 percent. More modest growth was seen from other regions, with Chinese mainland increasing by 2.8 percent, North Asia by 1.8 percent, and China's Taiwan showing a slight rise of 0.6 percent.

"Although the overall outlook for global and regional tourism remains largely positive, we do envisage some short-term impact on December arrivals from the World Trade Organization's Hong Kong Ministerial Conference (WTO HKMC)," said HKTB executive director Clara Chong.

"We're also continuing to closely track the possible effects on arrivals of factors such as avian flu and the rising cost of aviation fuel. In spite of these factors, we're nonetheless confident of reaching our targeted 23 million by the end of the year." She added.

During December, the HKTB has being heavily promoting its 2005 Hong Kong WinterFest Mega Event, to encourage travel to the city both before and after the WTO HKMC. The event also usher in the full launch of the HKTB's 2006 Discover Hong Kong year integrated global campaign, which is aimed at further boosting next year's tourism arrivals and spending in Hong Kong.

Source: Xinhua