Hong Kong Visitor Arrivals Figures - May 2004

Hong Kong welcomed 1,694,392 visitor arrivals in May 2004, easily the highest May figure yet recorded, the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) announced today.

This represents a massive 297% increase on the equivalent figure for May 2003, when Hong Kong was still in the grip of Sars, and a 27.2% growth on the May 2002 performance, which provides a more meaningful benchmark. The total exceeds the May 2002 figure - the previous highest for May - by more than 360,000.

Arrivals from Mainland China were 78.8% ahead of the May 2002 figure at 972,837, while Europe, Africa & the Middle East (+8.4%) and Australia, New Zealand & South Pacific (+6.7%) also showed healthy growth over the same month in 2002, and The Americas (-1.1%) came close.

HKTB Executive Director Clara Chong noted that May was traditionally one of Hong Kong's quieter months for tourism, hence reaching nearly 1.7 million arrivals in the month was a significant achievement. "In recent years the Golden Week holiday has given Mainland arrivals a boost in the early part of May, and that was again the case this time," she said. "However, the performance of our long-haul markets was also very encouraging and demonstrates that our tourism growth is coming from a number of different sources."

For the first five months of 2004 combined, total arrivals stand at 8.37 million, growth of 60.2% compared with the same period in 2003 and 32.2% with that of 2002. "Early results for June are also showing a healthy positive trend, so we are now confident of reaching our half-year targets and staying on track to achieve the aggressive target we set ourselves of 20.5 million arrivals in 2004, which is 38% ahead of 2003," Ms Chong commented.

Analysis by Markets, May and January to May 2004

Of the 972,837 arrivals from Mainland China in May, 353,216 (36.3%) were recorded in the first 10 days of the month, coinciding with the Golden Week holiday. Some 307,657 Mainland visitors during the month, 31.6% of the total, arrived under the Individual Visit Scheme, which was extended to the whole of Guangdong province from the beginning of May. A further nine cities in Fujian, Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces have since joined the scheme with effect from 1 July, bringing the total number of cities covered to 32.

For the first five months of 2004, Hong Kong has now welcomed 4.80 million Mainland visitors, a 73.6% increase on the 2003 figure and a 95.1% increase on the same period in 2002. This includes 1.34 million arrivals under the Individual Visit Scheme, 27.9% of the Mainland total.

May arrivals from Europe, Africa & the Middle East totalled 101,468, an increase of 675% on the May 2003 figure and 8.4% on that of 2002. There was especially encouraging growth from the United Kingdom, Italy, the Netherlands, the Middle East and South Africa. For the first five months of 2004, total arrivals from this region are 70.8% ahead of the same period in 2003 and 9.0% above those of 2002.

Australia, New Zealand & South Pacific region recorded 37,030 May arrivals, a 579% increase on May 2003 and 6.7% increase on the 2002 figure. Both Australia and New Zealand are showing steady positive growth. For the first five months of 2004 overall, arrivals stand at 62.0% ahead of those for 2003 and 7.5% above 2002. 

Arrivals from The Americas in May reached 108,553, which is 688% above the 2003 figure and a modest 1.1% below that of May 2002. Canada showed a small increase of 1.6% compared with May 2002, while the United States was 1.5% down. However, both markets are now showing a steady upward trend, boosted by the improving US economy, and a return to positive growth is anticipated within June. Cumulatively, arrivals from The Americas in the first five months are 61.4% ahead of the same period in 2003 and 3.8% below those for 2002.

South & Southeast Asia contributed 166,022 arrivals in May, 584% more than in May 2003 but 3.6% below the 2002 figure, although this month's result countered the overall trend for the year which remains positive. India (+18.3%) and Thailand (+4.7%) bettered their 2002 results, with family visitors from both countries taking advantage of school holidays in May. Total arrivals for this region in the first five months of 2004 now stand at 74.0% ahead of the same period in 2003 and 2.0% ahead of 2002.

Arrivals from North Asia totalled 124,441 May arrivals, 602% above the May 2003 figure but 14.9% below 2002. South Korea (+21.2% compared with May 2002) continues to show strong positive growth but the recovery is taking longer to gather momentum in Japan. For the first five months of 2004 overall, arrivals from this region show a 20.2% increase on the equivalent period in 2003 and a 21.7% decrease on the 2002 result.

Taiwan is also taking longer to recover than other neighbouring markets, due to ongoing political and economic concerns which are dampening outbound travel. Arrivals for the month reached 149,681, 510% more than in May 2003 but 22.5% fewer than in May 2002. Total arrivals from Taiwan in the first five months are showing a 25.1% increase over those for 2003 but a 17.6% fall over 2002.

Same-Day In-Town Visitors

In May, 62.6% of all visitors stayed for one night or longer, a significant improvement on the 56.2% in May 2003, when the Sars outbreak encouraged many to keep their stay to a minimum. The remaining 37.4% were classified as "same-day in-town" visitors, departing for another destination on the same day as arrival. Most longer-haul visitors stayed for one night or more, notably those from Australia, New Zealand & South Pacific (79.8%), The Americas (78.4%) and Europe, Africa & the Middle East (76.1%). In addition, 75.5% of all visitors from South & Southeast Asia did so.

For the first five months of 2004, 62.7% of all visitors have stayed for one night or more, compared with 61.9% for the same period in 2003.

Hotel Occupancy

Average occupancy rate across all categories of hotels and tourist guest houses in May was 83%, compared with only 18% in May 2003 when the impact of the Sars crisis on Hong Kong was at its most severe. In May 2002, a fairer comparison, average occupancy also stood at 83%.

The average achieved hotel room rate was HK$731, a 23.7% improvement on the May 2003 figure.

For the first five months of 2004, average occupancy rate now stands at 85%, compared with 58% for the same period in 2003 and 83% in 2002. The average achieved hotel room rate is HK$773, a significant improvement on the HK$669 recorded for this period in 2003 and HK$702 in 2002.

See also: Hong Kong Visitor Arrivals - April 2004.