UK visits to Hong Kong hit record levels
Hong Kong attracted more than 500,000 UK visitors for the first time last year
Hong Kong Tourism Board figures show that arrivals from the UK totalled 516,495 – up 11.2% on 2005’s record visitor numbers.
The rise was attributed to increased tourism marketing activity, new attractions and further growth in air capacity.
Globally, visitor arrivals to Hong Kong reached 25.25 million – a growth of 8.1% on 2005 – with December setting a record for a single month.
Average hotel occupancy in Hong Kong for 2006 was 87% – up one per cent on 2005 despite a 7.4% increase in room supply.
HKTB Northern Europe & Middle East director Richard Hume said: “The HKTB identified 2006 as a milestone year for tourism and this has certainly proved to be the case.
“Our global 2006 Discover Hong Kong Year campaign gave us huge visibility and highlighted new attractions such as the Ngong Ping 360 Skyrail, Hong Kong Wetland Park and Hong Kong Disneyland, as well as traditional culture and lesser-known areas of Hong Kong.”
New flights from Air New Zealand and Oasis added to already-growing capacity with Cathay Pacific, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Qantas.
Hume added: “A key factor in the coming months will be increasing the depth of knowledge of Hong Kong amongst the trade – we are focusing very hard on getting agents to register for and complete our Hong Kong Specialist Online training scheme.
“Once qualified, agents benefit from a whole range of initiatives to help them sell Hong Kong. And for the consumer, with more flights, more hotels and even more attractions in Hong Kong, there’s never been a better time to go.”
Report by Phil Davies
Phil Davies
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