Hong Kong Visitor Arrivals Decreased In November

According to the Hong Kong Tourism Board in November 2008 the number visitor arrivals in Hong Kong decreased by more than 1% from the same period of last year.

It is reported that the current Hong Kong hotel bookings for the Christmas Day and New Year holidays were over 80%, a slight decrease compared to the same period of last year. InOctober, the number of tourists to Hong Kong went down by 14% from the same period of last year.

For short-haul markets, HKTB will focus on attracting tourists from mainland China and Southeast Asia regions.

Hong Kong's New Year countdown Ccelebration is scheduled to be held on 31 December 2008. The countdown event will be upgraded with an extended firework display at a cost of HKD6 million. The HKTB hopes that the event would bring business opportunities to its travel trade partners, and also will cooperate with the Macau travel trade to attract tourists who visit Macau to travel to Hong Kong for the spectacular countdown event. In addition, the HKTB will promote travel products themed on this event, such as New Year countdown night tours and harbor cruises.