HKTB Welcomes IVS Expansion for Non-Shenzhen Residents

In response to the announcement by the Mainland China authority on expanding the scope for non-Guangdong residents in Shenzhen to apply for endorsement under the Individual Visit Scheme with effect from 15 December 2010, Chairman of the Hong Kong Tourism Board Mr James Tien made the following remarks:

“Since the beginning of 2010, Mainland visitor arrivals have been seeing considerable growth to surpass 20 million in the first eleven months, representing a 27%-increase year-on-year ... According to data provided by the Shenzhen authority, an additional four million non-Shenzhen residents will be eligible for the expanded scheme. We believe the new measure will encourage them to pay consumption visits to Hong Kong, and drive further growth of Mainland arrivals, especially those making same-day visits.

“Separately, since the launch of year-round multiple-entry visa arrangements for Shenzhen residents to visit Hong Kong in last April, over 4.77 million Shenzhen-residents have taken advantage of these arrangements to travel to Hong Kong as at end-October 2010. This measure has been contributing to the increase of total Mainland arrivals this year. We hope the Central Government will extend such measure to residents of other cities in Guangdong Province. This will bring not only convenience of the multiple-entry visa arrangements to more Mainland visitors, but also greater business opportunities to the Hong Kong tourism and related sectors.”

See also: Hong Kong Visitor Arrivals in October 2010

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