HONG KONG DUBS MID EAST ‘FASTEST GROWING TOURISM SOURCE MARKET’ CITY OF LIFE PLANS TO MAINTAIN TREND WITH MAJOR ATM PROMOTION

The Middle East is now Hong Kong’s fastest-growing tourism source market, according to the Hong Kong Tourist Association (HKTA).

Latest HKTA figures show Middle East tourism arrivals to Hong Kong in 1999 grew by around 30%, compared to the previous year, to reach 62,999.

Hong Kong is now looking to build on the growth trend with a major promotion at Arabian Travel Market, the Middle East’s premier travel and tourism exhibition, which will be held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates in May this year.

"We are going to heavily promote our ‘Hong Kong City Of Life’ campaign," said Sue Whitehead, HKTA’s Area Director-Northern Europe and the Middle East. "Although actual visitor numbers from the Middle East are still relatively small in global terms, it is the fastest-growing region to Hong Kong and therefore a very important market for us."

The HKTA says lower air fares, lower hotel rates and lower retail prices over the past three years have restored Hong Kong’s competitive tourism edge. The HKTA is among 36 official destination organisations so far registered for Arabian Travel Market 2001, which takes place at the Dubai World Trade Centre from May 1-4.

"The Far East will be strongly represented at Arabian Travel Market 2001 with Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand having official pavilions and additional representation coming from airlines, such as Royal Brunei, and independent tour operators. In addition, for the first time, Vietnam will be represented with one of the country’s leading tour operators Exotissimo Travel Vietnam Company Ltd taking part," said Matt Thompson, Exhibition Director, Arabian Travel Market.

To date, exhibitors from 53 countries have registered for Arabian Travel Market 2001, which is being organised by Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE). The show, now in its eighth year, is set to be the largest in the series with a contracted floor space growth of between 10 ­ 12%.

RTE organises ten events worldwide, including World Travel Market, Arabian Travel Market, C.I.S. Travel Market, EIBTM, British Travel Trade Fair, PATA Travel Mart, International Golf Travel Market, Mediterranean Travel Fair, Top Resa and AIME.