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Hong Kong
Tourism Board (HKTB) Executive Director Ms Clara Chong today (27
September) attended the Joint Council of the Travel Industry of Hong
Kong (JCTI) meeting to discuss the countermeasures of the tourism
industry following the 11 September terrorist attacks in the United
States.
Those attending agreed that, for the continuous development of tourism
business, the entire travel industry should co-operate in increasing
Hong Kong’s appeal and competitiveness by providing more attractive
packages.
Ms Chong said the incident in the United States has affected tourism
worldwide and that the HKTB had immediately adjusted and modified its
promotional strategies in accordance with the market environment and
situation. Since the incident, the HKTB has halted consumer promotion
activities in the United States and Canada and has reallocated resources
to short-haul markets.
She, however, stressed that the HKTB is still maintaining close contact
with the trade in the United States and Canada with a view that when the
situation improved, Hong Kong would be in a very good position to
recapture market share.
Ms Chong said that Mainland China and Taiwan — Hong Kong’s two biggest
source markets accounting for around 50% of total visitor arrivals —
were the least affected.
“The HKTB will further strengthen promotions in these two markets,
especially through the City of Life: Hong Kong is it! campaign’s Best of
the Best Culinary Awards and the Hong Kong Lights Up programme,” she
said.
Working alongside the Tourism Commission, the HKTB will be urging the
authorities concerned to draw up measures that would make it easier for
travellers to visit Hong Kong. This would include increasing the quota
of Hong Kong tours for Mainland visitors and streamlining visa
application procedures for business travellers. For the Taiwan market,
the HKTB suggests speeding up the implementation of the “iPermit”
electronic visa system and increasing the number of flights to and from
Taiwan.
Ms Chong said she believed that North Asia and Australia are two markets
still possessing potential and that the HKTB will monitor closely the
situation and will strengthen promotional activities at an appropriate
time.
Earlier this year, the HKTB forecast growth of 7.8% in visitor arrivals
to 14.08 million. Although actual growth for the first eight months of
2001 reached 7.4% to 9.07 million, in view of the current market
environment in the United States, the HKTB has adjusted the forecast
downwards and estimates total arrivals for 2001 will be similar to 2000:
around 13.06 million.
The HKTB was pleased to learn that, under volatile market conditions,
local travel trade partners are actively engaged in preparing more
attractive packages. The packages will be launched shortly to entice
visitors from the short-haul markets to Hong Kong.
“The Tourism Commission is organising a tourism conference with the HKTB
for November to discuss the issue when the impact of the incident will
be clearer,” Ms Chong said. “Now travellers will be even more conscious
of service quality and value for money when planning their trips. We are
glad that trade members have agreed to enhance Hong Kong’s appeal and
position as the most popular travel destination in Asia by quickly
taking action,” Ms Chong added.
Note:
|
Actual visitor arrivals |
Arrivals Figures |
Growth rate (%) |
| Jan
– Dec 2000 |
13.06 million |
-
|
Forecast for 2001
(Jan uary 2001) |
14.08 milion |
7.8%
|
Actual visitor arrivals
Jan – Aug 2001 |
9.07
million |
7.4%
|
Revised forecast for 2001
(September 2001) |
13.06 million |
0% |
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