Airport fast lane to save time for frequent visitors
Hong Kong Standard
Tuesday, January 29, 2008

The Immigration Department will set up six e-channels, costing HK$4.8 million, for frequent overseas visitors at the airport.

The automatic system will shorten the time for clearance from one minute to 12 seconds. Currently visitors spend on average 14 minutes waiting in line.

An estimated 80,000 travelers will use the new system during a six-month trial scheduled for March or April.

The service will be available for holders of the HKSAR travel pass, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation business travel card and Hong Kong International Airport frequent-visitor card.

Eligible visitors have to spend 10 minutes to enroll at the airport, including having their fingerprints and photo taken.

The e-channel machines can read both passports and smart cards.

A sticker, with anti-forgery features and containing data such as length of stay allowed, will be printed out at the end of the fingerprint identification process.

Visitors will have to affix the sticker to their passports.

"We chose the airport for the trial because it is our busiest control point for foreign visitors," Director of Immigration Lai Tung-kwok said yesterday.

The department has also started, since February 2007, checking visitors who are 28 weeks pregnant or more.

Those believed to be coming to Hong Kong to give birth are persuaded to leave if they do not have proof of booking arrangements with a hospital.

At the end of last year, 32,468 pregnant visitors arrived at the border but 7.7 percent of them were turned away because they did not meet the requirements.

According to the Hospital Authority, the number of deliveries admitted via emergency services by women not eligible for such services in Hong Kong has dropped 90.5 percent, from a weekly average of 209 in December 2006 to 19.8 last month.

The immigration chief also said 15 South Asian and African countries have been removed from the visa waiver program since 1998 because an increasing number of their nationals have abused a United Nations covenant to avoid repatriation.

There has been a sharp rise in the number of people from those countries lodging torture claims only after being arrested for contravening laws in Hong Kong.

Four words: Kung hei fat choy!
Celebrations for the Year of the Rat are yet another reason to visit the lively Chinese territory
2 February 2008
The Globe and Mail

Once a quiet time for family get-togethers, Hong Kong's Chinese New Year holiday has been transformed into a major event that attracts visitors from around the world.

The two big public celebrations this year will be the Night Parade on the first day of the Year of the Rat (Feb. 7) and the massive fireworks display the following evening.

Visitors won't be able to ignore the festive lights on the façades of the city's high-rises and the colourful floral displays in the lobbies of hotels and office buildings. But to truly appreciate how residents mark the Lunar New Year (also known as the Spring Festival), visitors need to explore Hong Kong's markets and temples. And, of course, it's as good a time as any to experience the city's shopping malls, restaurants and the dozens of new attractions and theme parks that have opened in the past decade.

For the best view of the Night Parade, spend about $40 for a reserved seat in the spectator stands. But you can also take in the spectacle of international floats, marching bands, dancers and clowns for free by staking out a spot along the parade route, which winds through Kowloon's Tsim Sha Tsui tourist hub.

The next evening's fireworks will be launched from boats, so there will be good views from the east Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront, the Peak on the Hong Kong side and any building overlooking the harbour.

Much of the fun of being in Hong Kong at this time comes from observing the traditional holiday rituals.

On the last day of the old year, the massive outdoor flower market at Fa Hui Park in Kowloon's Mong Kok area will be bustling with families buying blooms to decorate their homes. The big sellers are peach blossoms and trees laden with kumquats, which represent prosperity.

At the nearby street markets that specialize in New Year merchandise, you'll find items such as banners with good wishes written in Chinese characters, decorative holiday jackets and the traditional red envelopes used for giving gifts of money. Emperor costumes in children's sizes make great gifts for kids back home.

Starting New Year's Eve, residents flock to Wong Tai Sin, a Taoist temple, to pray for good fortune. They buy joss (incense) sticks, blow on hand-held wind wheels and consult privately with fortune tellers. The crowds are huge, the lineups long and the building's red-and-gold decor obscured by a haze of incense smoke.

Even Hong Kong Disneyland gets into the spirit, presenting a special New Year show. The theme park, which has many of the same rides and shows as the Florida and California parks, is one of the many developments that have changed the face of Hong Kong's Lantau Island. Previously a peaceful oasis with a fishing village, an isolated mountaintop monastery and plenty of green space, Lantau provided an escape from the milling crowds. That started to change with the 1998 opening of Hong Kong International Airport on the island of Chek Lap Kok, which is connected to the urban centre by both a subway and a network of expressways, bridges and tunnels.

The monastery, Po Lin – which boasts the world's largest seated outdoor Buddha – is isolated no more. A Buddhist-themed amusement park, Ngong Ping Village, has been set up next door, with shops, restaurants, theatres and a cable car that provides a 25-minute ride up the mountain.

The once-rural New Territories have also seen their share of development. Hong Kong Wetland Park has been created in a major flight path of birds migrating between Siberia and Australia. Visitors using its trails, boardwalks and blinds can get close-up views of cormorants, egrets and other water birds in a natural setting.

Also in the New Territories, the Hong Kong Heritage Museum brings the city's history and culture to life through photos, videos, artifacts and full-scale reproductions of street scenes and boats.

To truly appreciate Hong Kong's non-stop energy, walk the busy streets near the waterfront in either Kowloon on the mainland or the Central District on Hong Kong Island. The two sides are connected by tunnels and the subway, but the Star Ferry also does the job with one of the world's most scenic short boat trips.

Visitors should also try out one of the world's most unusual commuter systems: a series of free, 800-metre-long escalators that take workers from the Central District to residential areas partway up the Peak.

For a respite from the bustle of Kowloon, visit the recently opened Nan Lian Garden. Landscaped in traditional Chinese style, it is adjacent to the impressive Chi Lin Nunnery, which was reconstructed in the 1990s using yellow cedar imported from Canada.

Another popular new attraction is the Symphony of Lights, a sound-and-light show that illuminates buildings on both sides of the harbour each evening.

Shopping remains one of the most popular pastimes for visitors. The massive malls, many of them interconnected, are large enough to get lost in. They specialize in brand-name designer goods and often sell fashions not yet found in North America. Small shops and street stalls have lower prices. Officially, the first three days of the New Year are public holidays, but shopping is so ingrained in Hong Kong culture that a number of stores close only on the morning of the New Year.

Eating is another big draw in Hong Kong, with cuisine from all regions of China and from around the world. The city boasts 12,000 restaurants – more than New York. Many local families eat out on New Year's Eve, so restaurants will be crowded.

For those who want to include a second destination on their trip, the former Portuguese colony of Macau is only a short jetfoil or catamaran ride away. Last year, it surpassed Las Vegas to become the world's biggest gambling destination in terms of money spent at its tables and machines.

If you're planning a visit to Hong Kong to welcome the Year of the Rat, learn these four words before you go: “Kung hei fat choy.” You'll be greeted with this traditional New Year wish for success and prosperity everywhere, and you will want to pass on the greeting to others.

Pack your bags

Based on lunar and solar movements, the Chinese New Year falls on a different date each year. The Year of the Rat will begin on Thursday, Feb. 7. Celebrations last until the Spring Lantern Festival two weeks later, but the major public events will be Feb. 7 and 8.

Getting there

Cathay Pacific Airways and Air Canada serve Hong Kong from Toronto and Vancouver.

Getting around

The MTR subway system will get you almost anywhere, including Hong Kong Disneyland and the airport. For the New Territories, take the Kowloon-Canton Railway commuter trains. Taxis are plentiful except around 4 p.m., when drivers change shifts.

Where to stay

The Peninsula Salisbury Road, Kowloon; (852) 2920 2888; hongkong.peninsula.com.

Chungking Mansions Nathan Road; chungkingmansions.org; a collection of guesthouses in a multi-storey building, serving the budget and backpacker market.

Food and drink

Restaurants of all types and in all price ranges can be found everywhere. The trendy Lan Kwai Fong district on Hong Kong Island has many bars and clubs.

More Information

Hong Kong Tourism Board 416-366-2389; www.discoverhongkong.com/canada

HK welcome mat out for migrants
6 February 2008
South China Morning Post

Between 1,000 and 2,000 migrant workers in Guangdong province are expected to visit Hong Kong daily during the Lunar New Year thanks to special discounted day tours.

The Tourism Commission and travel agencies including China Travel Services said coaches would take the workers from Shenzhen to Hong Kong Disneyland and the Ngong Ping 360 cable car or to Ocean Park. The government said Disneyland and Ocean Park had arranged special admission packages, including food and drinks, for the workers, while Ngong Ping 360 was giving away small presents.

It expected that the tours could start as early as Friday, the second day of the Lunar New Year.

Travel agencies said these tours were typically priced at between HK$200 and HK$500, but they hoped to offer discounts of up to 30 per cent.

Meanwhile, the Legislative Council's Finance Committee has approved HK$250 million for the government's Disaster Relief Fund to help victims of the severe winter weather on the mainland.

The two hardest-hit provinces, Hunan and Guizhou , will each be allocated HK$100 million, while Shaoguan in Guangdong province will receive HK$10 million.

The rest will go to major relief organisations.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club also contributed HK$10 million, the Bank of China (Hong Kong) donated HK$3 million, and Ocean Park and CLP Power each donated HK$1 million.

The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants in Hong Kong also chipped in HK$100,000.

出境團收益107億創新高
10/02/2008
http://the-sun.on.cc/channels/img/endmarker.gif

【本報訊】經濟向好刺激港人外遊意欲，香港旅遊業議會表示，去年本港出境旅行團的總營業額高達一百零七億元，較○六年上升兩成半，創歷年新高；今年一月亦超過十三億元，破單月紀錄，較去年同期上升三成半，主要原因是港元幣值疲弱，報團人數增加特別是豪華團，促使本港旅行團的營業額節節上升。

旅議會總幹事董耀中昨出席一個電台節目時解釋，由於外幣升值、港幣貶值推高團費，促使旅行團的營業額較以往大幅上升，但整體報團人數仍有一成增長。而豪華團愈受港人歡迎，指出以往參加豪華團的人數佔整體客量的一成，現時增加至兩成。

另外，受內地雪災影響，二百多個前往內地的旅行團被迫取消。董指出，現時內地天氣好轉，農曆年假期，本港往內地的旅行團都能如期出發，至於早前宣布，會暫停出發至本月十一日的黃山及井岡山等的旅行團，若果無特別原因，或可在十一號之後重開。

Ah... sorry to interrupt...

I will be stopping in HK on the way home to Australia from the UK. I am looking to buy a pair of Rockport boots called "Marradi". IN the USA, price is USD160 (about AUD180). In Australia they are AUD360! In the UK they are GBP100 (about AUD230).

Can anyone tell me what the price is in HK? If the price is good I will buy there.

Thanks!

10 sites for new hotels earmarked
Hong Kong Standard
Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun- wah tomorrow is expected to announce the allocation of 10 sites for hotels.
The move is to ease the city's hotel- room crunch.

A government source told The Standard's sister paper Sing Tao Daily there will be 62 sites available in the land application list in the 2008-2009 financial year and 10 will be earmarked for hotels. Among the 10 sites is a waterfront location at North Point west, two others at the Hung Hom Bay reclamation and also one on Lantau.

There were 47 sites in the land application list in the 2007-2008 financial year, of which 33 were for residential and 14 for commercial and business purposes.

The commercial and business sites are at Central, Tin Shui Wai, Kowloon Bay, Kwun Tong, Sai Kung, Shek Mun in Sha Tin and Tsuen Wan.

Developers, in fact, can use them to develop hotels but they seldom do so as the return generated by hotels is lower than that of office buildings.

Among 14 other sites, only the Central Market site is in a prime area while others are unattractive to developers.

To lure developers, the source said the trigger price for the hotel building sites will be lowered. Under the current system, an auction is triggered when the floor price submitted by developers for a site meets 80 percent of the government's minimum target price.

TABLE-Hong Kong Jan visitor arrivals up 16.2 pct yr/yr

March 3 (Reuters) - Visitor arrivals to Hong Kong rose 16.2 percent in January from a year earlier to 2.51 million, the Hong Kong Tourism Board said on Monday.

Following is a summary of visitor arrivals by Country/Territory in January.


No. of % Growth
Country/Territory Arrivals Year/Year
Mainland China 1,441,667 +19.1
South & Southeast Asia 204,905 +11.3
Europe, Africa & the Middle East 188,393 +15.9
The Americas 152,900 +14.1
North Asia 218,810 +10.9
Taiwan 189,166 +11.2
Australia, New Zealand &
South Pacific 73,518 +14.5
Macau 49,207 +12.7

- Hotel occupancy in January averaged 87 percent, up 2 percentage points from a year earlier.

- The average hotel room rate in January was HK$1,245 ($159.6), up 5.7 percent from the same month a year ago. ($1=7.8 Hong Kong Dollar)

Tourist numbers forecast to hit 50m
Hong Kong Standard
Wednesday, March 05, 2008

The number of tourist arrivals can be expected to top 50 million a year by 2015, according to a forecasting system set up by the Polytechnic University's School of Hotel and Tourism Management.

And those tourists will spend HK$201 billion.

The world's first web-based tourism demand forecasting system also sees mainland tourist numbers doubling to 8.59 million in 2015, with their spending topping HK$90 billion.

Demand by mainland tourists for high tariff hotel rooms is expected to peak near 12,000 by the second quarter of 2015.

That would be a more than twofold increase in the demand for guesthouses - from around 1,500 this year to just over 4,000 by 2015.

Project leader Song Haiyan, chair professor at the school, unveiled the system - available on subscription - at the university's Li Ka Shing Building yesterday.

He said the system is unique among computer-generating models because the results are scrutinized and adjusted by a panel of 12 experts.

"If we only rely on the econometric model to generate forecasts, it is too rigid and cannot incorporate possible future events," Song said.

"The system cannot incorporate information regarding the 2008 Beijing Olympic games because there is no historical data.

"But experts can input their forecasts to adjust the econometrics and take into account future events. It is the unique feature of the system."

With historical data, government statistics and representatives from the government, academia and the industry, the system is able to generate forecasts for tourist arrivals, demand and expenditure on food, retail transportation and hotel rooms.

Song said the system can also generate ad hoc forecasts such as attendances at major theme parks provided there is historical data.

The system, he added, would provide vital planning information for the industry's decision makers and government policymakers.

Hey guys, could you tell me how/where to get to Macau from HK island by sea? I've heard that there are a few ways...so please advise me a fast, easy, convenient way at a reasonable price.

Thanks in advance.

Hey guys, could you tell me how/where to get to Macau from HK island by sea? I've heard that there are a few ways...so please advise me a fast, easy, convenient way at a reasonable price.

Thanks in advance.

Best way is to take the ferry from Hong Kong Island's Macau Ferry Terminal (MTR : Sheung Wan). It takes about an hour to get to Macau. Weekday fares from HKD 140 in ordinary class 1-way. Night sailings are slightly more expensive from HKD 168-175. First Ferry also sails from Kowloon but the operators charge about the same price.

Turbojet

Sheung Wan - Macau
http://www.turbojet.com.hk/eng/schedule/prd.html

First Ferry

Tsim Sha Tsui / Sheung Wan - Macau
http://www.nwff.com.hk/engtext/schedule/search_route.asp?line=macau

There is a new service operated by the Venetian Hotel and goes straight to Taipa. I don't think they're giving fare discounts though.

If you're going overnight and are in pairs, I suggest you buy a package which includes hotel and ferry tickets. I'd recommend China Travel Service to book these packages.

Builders cool on proposed hotel sites
Developers fear non-core locations may not produce reasonable returns on investment
12 March 2008
South China Morning Post

Hong Kong property developers have shown a cool response to the government's move to allocate 10 sites in non-core areas for hotel projects. They say the sites may not generate acceptable returns on their investment.

Forecasting low single-digit investment returns on development costs that are expected to be 50 per cent higher than for residential projects, major developers say they are not keen on bidding for the sites.

A source at Sun Hung Kai Properties, Hong Kong's largest developer by market value, said the hotel sites would not be attractive to most players because of their inferior location. He said hotels built on those sites would provide rental yields of just between 5 and 6 per cent.

The new land application list released last month contains 62 sites up for sale, of which 10 are designated for hotel development as the government's response to the tourism industry's call for more hotel supply.

The sites are in North Point, Wan Chai, Central, Kwun Tong, Tin Shui Wai, Tsuen Wan, Sai Kung, Hung Hom Bay reclamation area, and Kowloon Bay, where there are two.

"If a hotel development doesn't work, we could simply convert it into other uses," the source said. "But the 10 sites on the land application list are for hotel use only. We have to take on higher investment risk and will suffer if the project doesn't work."

HKR International managing director Victor Cha Mou-zing said a large capital commitment and low investment yields explained why developers had either held back on hotel projects or cancelled them entirely.

Figures from the Hong Kong Tourism Board showed the average room rates jumped 11.4 per cent to HK$1,215 per room per night last year. However, the average room rates in budget hotels rose just 4.4 per cent from a year ago to HK$296 per room per night, while luxury hotel room rates gained 12.3 per cent to HK$2,124.

"In Hong Kong, high land costs make hotel investments even more challenging," said Mr Cha, adding that margins on such projects had been squeezed significantly.

Five years ago, many developers were weighing plans to redevelop their underused industrial buildings in Wong Chuk Hang and Kwun Tong into budget hotels, he said.

"Why are they not going ahead with these plans now? Because of high land premium charges," said Mr Cha, whose group opted instead to operate luxury hotels in Bangkok.

Citing HKR as an example, he said the firm's HK$1 billion 300-room hotel and retail complex in Discovery Bay had been deferred for several years as the group could generate higher returns by concentrating on other investments including residential projects.

But Discovery Bay's master layout plan showed HKR was required to build the hotel, so the project would open in the middle of next year, he said.

Henderson Land Development chairman Lee Shau-kee had said he was not interested in bidding for sites on the new list as the group had abundant agricultural land in the New Territories and there were also many sites for sale on the mainland.

Alnwick Chan Chi-hing, an executive director at Knight Frank, does not expect developers to compete for hotel sites on the list as few were taking up long-term investments.

Hotel construction costs were 50 per cent higher than residential developments, Mr Chan said, although the payback period was longer than the five years on housing projects.

"Most developers feel hesitant about hotel developments as the operating costs of hotels are also high, whether the occupancy rates are high or not," he said.

Mr Chan said the sites should be sold through a regular land auction rather than putting them in the land application list, as this process would be more transparent because the government would set a reserve price.

Francis Li Chi-wing, an executive director at DTZ, said not all developers were keen to tackle hotel projects as they had no related experience. They also did not lack alternatives as the land application list provided different types of development sites.

"Residential sites are the most attractive to developers, while office sites are also attractive since the investment risk is lower. The payback period for hotel developments is about 10 years, longer than it takes for other developments," Mr Li said.

But while most developers have little interest in hotels, tourism experts believe Hong Kong will face a shortage of hotel rooms if no pipeline of new supply is created now.

Hong Kong Hotels Association executive director James Lu Shien-kwai expects tourist arrivals to rise to a record 30.8 million this year from 28.2 million last year. "Big developers may not be interested in these small sites but small operators may like them. Let's see how it goes," he said.

Assuming a 10 per cent rise in tourist arrivals yearly, the hotel industry would need a new supply of 3,000 to 4,000 rooms to meet demand, Mr Lu said.

Hong Kong hotels had been enjoying an average occupancy rate of 85 per cent - the highest in Asia - for the past few years, he said. At the end of last year, there were 51,581 hotel rooms in Hong Kong, up 9 per cent from 48,300 in 2006.

Best way is to take the ferry from Hong Kong Island's Macau Ferry Terminal (MTR : Sheung Wan). It takes about an hour to get to Macau. Weekday fares from HKD 140 in ordinary class 1-way. Night sailings are slightly more expensive from HKD 168-175. First Ferry also sails from Kowloon but the operators charge about the same price.

Turbojet

Sheung Wan - Macau
http://www.turbojet.com.hk/eng/schedule/prd.html

First Ferry

Tsim Sha Tsui / Sheung Wan - Macau
http://www.nwff.com.hk/engtext/schedule/search_route.asp?line=macau

There is a new service operated by the Venetian Hotel and goes straight to Taipa. I don't think they're giving fare discounts though.

If you're going overnight and are in pairs, I suggest you buy a package which includes hotel and ferry tickets. I'd recommend China Travel Service to book these packages.

thanks a lot, HKskyline. so it is possible to go there in early morning and come back at night time then huh. :):)

thanks a lot, HKskyline. so it is possible to go there in early morning and come back at night time then huh. :):)

Yes, you can most definitely do a day trip to Macau, but if you're going on a weekend, get your tickets a few days early as the morning departures tend to fill up rather quickly.

Training hotel opens its doors
Hong Kong Standard
Tuesday, April 01, 2008

A hotel that will train people with intellectual disabilities in the skills of housekeeping and catering was officially opened in Tai Po yesterday.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club donated more than HK$18 million to the Hong Chi Association to fund the conversion of part of the association's staff quarters at Pinehill Village into a training hotel, named the Jockey Club Hong Chi Lodge.

Funds also went to improving office accommodation and the overall environment.

The lodge has 10 guest rooms, a coffee shop and a conference room. All guest rooms are completed to five- star standard.

Young people with mild or moderate intellectual disabilities will receive on-the-job training.

Hello, another boat-related question here for anyone who could help. Heading over to Hong Kong in May before travelling up to Guangzhou (or possibly Foshan). Ideally we'd like to travel up the river by boat, but I've been getting mixed information on whether the HK-GZ ferry is still operating. Is it possible to still do this? Thanks in advance for any help! :)

Also (and apologies for making this sound a little like a travel forum!), are jeans & t-shirt appropriate clothing for HK in May? I hear it gets pretty hot and humid there!

Hello, another boat-related question here for anyone who could help. Heading over to Hong Kong in May before travelling up to Guangzhou (or possibly Foshan). Ideally we'd like to travel up the river by boat, but I've been getting mixed information on whether the HK-GZ ferry is still operating. Is it possible to still do this? Thanks in advance for any help! :)

Also (and apologies for making this sound a little like a travel forum!), are jeans & t-shirt appropriate clothing for HK in May? I hear it gets pretty hot and humid there!

No worries. This thread is the right place for such questions. :)

I don't think ferries still run from HK - Guangzhou (I've never picked up this service), but ferries do run to other regional cities such as Zhongshan and Shenzhen. I don't see one from the airport either.

Bring shorts for May. The daytime high is reaching 25C these days. It should be quite humid and warm by May.

Thanks hkskyline! It's a shame we can't travel from HK to GZ area by boat - it would have been nice to travel up the river. Train it is then, I guess!

訪港客去年消費1400億
旅客逾2800萬人次 丁財同創新高


2008年4月25日




【明報專訊】去年訪港旅客逾2800萬人次，旅發局昨公布去年「與入境旅遊相關總開支」亦創新高，逾1400億港元，較2006年升16％，主要由於港元貶值所致。由於內地市場佔本港逾半訪客，故為免今年奧運期間，內地訪客不升反跌，旅發局斥資1100萬元於內地宣傳，力谷女性來港購物。

內地客人均消費5200元升10.4％

旅發局表示，去年與旅客入境的旅遊相關總開支(包括住宿、飲食、購物、娛樂及交通)，達1405億港元，較06年升16.4％；在人均消費方面，過夜旅客的人均消費達5122元，亦較06年升6.7％，人均消費最高的是來自美洲的旅客，達5744元。內地旅客人均消費升幅最多，達10.4％，近5200元(見表)。旅發局表示，增長原因之一是受惠於外幣對港元升值。

入境不過夜旅客方面，整體人均消費升22.1％，達1239元，而內地旅客亦愈來愈多參加「快閃」自由行，即日來回，他們人均消費亦高達1832元。

無論過夜或不過夜旅客，他們大部分旅遊消費均用於購物，分別佔56.7%和86.2%。當中，內地的過夜旅客用於購物的消費達72.6％，是所有地區市場之冠。此外，訪港旅客對購物的滿意度亦由81％升至83％。

旅遊發展局主席田北俊表示，今年至本月15日止，訪港旅客已錄得846萬人次，較去年同期升10.7％。為免奧運期間旅客出現不升反跌情，特別是佔本港逾半訪客的內地市場，故旅發局會花1100萬元到內地宣傳，並以女性遊客為目標。

奧運年千萬宣傳 吸內地女遊客

他說，去年8月內地旅客增長率為23.5％，預計今年8月升幅將不超過一成，故早於2月已開始催谷購物月，亦會以香港為奧運協辦城市為切入點，向內地介紹本地旅遊特色。

他說，女士一般愛購物多於運動，來港旅遊未必為觀賞奧運賽事，為使旅客能感受奧運氣氛，除了與3家全國播放的衛星電視台合作，邀請城中名人任主持，參與拍攝本港奧運特輯之外，亦會針對女性消費群推廣夏日購物，如與中央電視台的消費節目《購物街》合作，在10個城市招募10多名精明消費者，來港介紹特色購物熱點。

Here is the English version :

Visitors splash out a record HK$140b
25 April 2008
South China Morning Post

Visitors to Hong Kong spent HK$140.5 billion last year, up HK$19.8 billion, or 16.4 per cent, on 2006, according to the Tourism Board.

The increase was most pronounced for same-day visitors, who accounted for HK$13.6 billion of the total, up 42.6 per cent.

Spending by overnight visitors - those who stayed one night or longer - rose 15.7 per cent to HK$87.87 billion. The rest of the spending was attributed to servicemen and cruise and transiting passengers.

Spending by overnight visitors averaged HK$5,122, an increase of 6.7 per cent compared with 2006, when the figure was HK$4,799. Those who did not stay overnight averaged HK$1,239, up 22 per cent from HK$1,015.

The lion's share of the spending was on shopping - accounting for 72.6 per cent of spending by mainland visitors.

On average, shopping accounted for 56.7 per cent of overnight visitor spending and 86 per cent for same-day visitors last year, the board said.

The improved spending was partly due to the increase in the value of foreign currencies relative to the US dollar, to which the Hong Kong dollar is pegged. Last year the yuan rose 7 per cent against the US dollar.

"Currency appreciation is a huge factor behind the increase in tourist receipts and arrivals," said Song Haiyan, chair professor and associate director of the school of hotel and tourism management at Polytechnic University. "Given the mainland's robust economic growth and rising disposable personal income, more people can afford to travel to Hong Kong and around the world. Hong Kong is also a main shopping destination for Chinese visitors."

The university expects the number of mainland arrivals to increase between 8 per cent and 10 per cent a year over the coming five to six years.

Professor Song said the yuan's appreciation was also expected to continue for the next year at least.

The number of inbound tourists from January and mid-April reached 8.46 million, up 10.7 per cent on the same period last year.

To attract more mainland visitors, TV programmes are being prepared featuring the board's chairman, James Tien Pei-chun, and his racehorse Liberal's Knight, as well as several celebrities. The programmes will highlight Hong Kong's role as a co-host of the Olympic Games and Mr Tien will focus on horseracing, equestrian events and his favourite food in Sha Tin.

He brushed off worries that visitor numbers may drop during the Games because of concerns that hotels will be fully booked.

"We estimate that the number of tourists will not drop during that period, although we may not be able to achieve {hellip} a double digit growth at that time," he said.

3 月 訪 港 旅 客 升 11.2%



3 月 份 訪 港 旅 客 數 字 為 240.45 萬 人 次 ， 較 去 年 同 期 上 升 11.2% 。


香 港 旅 遊 發 展 局 公 佈 3 月 份 訪 港 旅 客 數 字 ， 為 240.45 萬 人 次 ， 較 去 年 同 期 上 升 11.2% ， 首 季 累 積 計 ， 旅 客 達 727.55 萬 人 次 ， 較 去 年 同 期 增 加 10% 。

3 月 份 訪 港 旅 客 中 ， 以 內 地 遊 客 上 升 最 多 ， 達 16.8% ， 超 過 126 萬 人 次 ， 佔 整 體 旅 客 量 47.2% 。 以 「 個 人 遊 」 身 份 來 港 的 旅 客 ， 則 達 68.12 萬 人 次 ， 較 去 年 同 期 增 加 23.1% 。 至 於 東 南 亞 、 歐 洲 、 非 洲 及 中 東 旅 客 的 升 幅 ， 則 緊 隨 內 地 旅 客 。

3 月 份 所 有 類 別 酒 店 的 平 均 入 住 率 為 86% ， 較 去 年 同 期 下 跌 3% 。 當 中 以 油 麻 地 區 及 旺 角 區 的 酒 店 最 受 歡 迎 ， 入 住 率 達 90% 。 酒 店 平 均 房 租 為 1,362 元 ， 較 去 年 同 期 上 升 3.6% 。

Frequent visitors to benefit from electronic screening at airport
17 May 2008
South China Morning Post

Six new electronic screening channels will be opened at the airport on Monday to speed up the arrivals of up to 80,000 frequent visitors.

Each person will be able to clear immigration in 12 seconds, just as Hong Kong identity-card holders now do, according to Jacqueline Kwan Chan Suet-mui, assistant immigration director for information systems.

The Immigration Department began registering frequent visitors for the e-channels on Tuesday. So far, it has 70 users.

There will be three channels located in each of the two arrival halls at Terminal One.

To clear an e-channel, passengers scan a bar-code on their travel documents to pass through one set of doors, then place their index finger on a reader and receive a sticker specifying their conditions of stay before passing through a second set of doors.

To register as a user, passengers must go to an office near Arrival Hall B, where officers will take their photograph and a print of their index finger, verify their personal details, present a form for signing and affix a bar-code to the passenger's travel documents.

Eligible passengers must visit at least three times a year, be over 18 and hold a Hong Kong SAR travel pass, Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation business travel card, or Hong Kong International Airport frequent visitor card.

Ms Kwan said the department would launch e-channels for departures in the coming months. It would also consider setting up more e-channels and including other document holders in three to four months.

On a separate issue, Ms Kwan said the department would decide within a fortnight what action to take regarding a new officer who accidentally leaked classified information this month.

The department is considering whether two senior officers from whom the recruit received the information will also be punished.

上月訪港旅客較去年升6.3%

(星島) 06月 26日 星期四 05:30AM
(綜合報道)



(星島日報 報道)旅發局昨公布五月份訪港旅客數字，無論長、短途地區的旅客普遍錄得增長，達二百三十四萬二千多人次，較去年同期上升百分之六點三；首五個月累計旅客人數更達一千二百萬零三千多人次，升幅近一成。旅發局指出，來自南韓 旅客增長率最高，升幅達三成二，而印度 、俄羅斯 等新興市場的旅客人數，亦有所增加。

　　達234萬人次

　　旅發局指出，上月來自全球各地長、短途地區的旅客人數大部分均錄得增長，當中北亞地區旅客人數上升達一成三，南亞及東南亞上升百分之九點九，台灣 及內地亦分別上升百分之七點四及六點六。不過，來自歐洲、非洲 及中東的旅客人數就下跌百分之四點二。在個別客源當中，以南韓旅客增長率最高，達三成二，其次是印度及俄羅斯。

　　而內地自由行 旅客方面，就較去年同期上升百分之三點六，佔整體內地旅客比例的五成四，而首五個月自由行旅客人數就較去年上升一成二。在台灣旅客方面，現時仍有七成三屬於過境旅客，過夜旅客人數亦較去年上升百分之七，達四萬七千人次。本報記者

　　

TABLE-Hong Kong May visitor arrivals up 6.3 pct yr/yr

June 25 (Reuters) - Visitor arrivals to Hong Kong rose 6.3 percent in May from a year earlier to 2.34 million, the Hong Kong Tourism Board said on Wednesday.

This brings cumulative arrivals for the first five months of 2008 to 12.03 million, up 9.5 percent from the same period last year.

Following is a summary of visitor arrivals by Country/Territory in May.


No. of % Growth
Country/Territory Arrivals Year/Year
North Asia 192,586 +13.6
Macau 47,503 +11.1
South & Southeast Asia 278,138 +9.9
Taiwan 177,028 +7.4
Mainland China 1,290,806 +6.4
Australia, New Zealand &
South Pacific 62,216 +4.6
The Americas 139,616 +0.6
Europe, Africa & the Middle East 154,253 -4.2

- Hotel occupancy in May averaged 81 percent, unchanged from the same month in 2007.

- The average hotel room rate in May was HK$1,140 (US$146), up 3.5 percent from the same month a year ago. ($1=7.8 Hong Kong Dollar)

香港獲韓評為最佳觀光城市


(明報) 07月 03日 星期四 11:25PM

香港旅遊發展局 稱，香港在韓國 首屆２００８首爾 旅遊獎中被韓國旅遊業界和遊客評為「亞太區最佳觀光城市」。



香港旅遊發展局的網站同時獲評「亞太區最佳旅遊網站」。

香港旅遊發展局主席田北俊 表示，獲得這兩個獎項證明，香港在韓國推出的以家庭和年輕客戶群為目標的多元化市場推廣活動，取得了理想成績，成?#92;建立起香港的旅遊形象，韓國訪港遊客人數自２００２年至今已上升近一倍。

他認為，旅發局網站已由一個發放資訊的工具蛻變為具有效益的推廣平臺，充分配合全球網上旅遊的趨勢，１２個語言版本提供有關香港多元化吸引力的全面資訊及多種互動元素，此次獲獎更堅定了對推廣方向的信心。

韓國訪港遊客近年來一直保持兩位數的升幅，其中２００７年人數超過８７．６萬人次，比２００６年上升２２％；２００８年首５個月韓國訪港遊客超過４２．７萬人次，同比上升２８．６％。韓國已成為香港第五大客源市場。

２００８首爾旅遊獎由首爾市政府舉辦，用以表彰亞太地區有傑出表現的旅遊城市推廣工作。香港旅遊大使成龍 和香港旅遊發展局代表出席了６月２７日在首爾舉行的頒獎典禮。

Disney only tours to add attractions
Hong Kong Standard
Friday, August 01, 2008

Mainland tourists on special "Disney visas" are to be given the option of visiting other Hong Kong attractions during their stay in the city.

The move comes after criticism of the original plan, which was to allow up to eight million non-Guangdong residents who work in Shenzhen to come to Disney only.

The Hong Kong arm of state-owned China Travel Service says visitors will be taken to the Golden Bauhinia Square in Wan Chai, Repulse Bay and Deep Water Bay.

China Travel's assistant general manager Wang Fugang told The Standard the expanded tour was likely to cover five to six attractions and shopping hot spots during their short stay.

He said tourists can visit other places on subsequent visits.

"To include too many attractions would be too expensive for workers," said Wang.

Tour prices would depend on how much money different groups had to spend but Wang insisted there would be no "zero-fee tours" - where money is made by directing tourists to certain shops - to ensure a high quality of service.

China Travel Service will be the first agency to host the tours.

Wang said the addition of Ngong Ping 360 to the itinerary has still to be discussed.

A source said Ocean Park has contacted China Travel Service on being added to the itinerary after its chairman Allan Zeman on Wednesday hit out at the deal as being a "wrong decision."

Wang said Ocean Park will be included in the itinerary after the scheme's initial implementation.

TABLE-Hong Kong June visitor arrivals up 5.6 pct yr/yr

HONG KONG, Aug 1 (Reuters) - Visitor arrivals to Hong Kong rose 5.6 percent in June from a year earlier to 2.15 million, according to data from the Hong Kong Tourism Board.

This brings cumulative arrivals for the first six months of 2008 to 14.2 million, up 8.9 percent from the same period last year.

Following is a summary of visitor arrivals by Country/Territory in June.

No. of % Growth
Country/Territory Arrivals Year/Year
North Asia 181,123 6.9
Macau 51,913 -3.9
South & Southeast Asia 252,530 -0.5
Taiwan 183,886 -0.1
Mainland China 1,145,551 12.4
Australia, New Zealand & South
Pacific 61,240 -6.2
The Americas 132,075 -5.3
Europe, Africa & the Middle East 139,608 -6.1

- Hotel occupancy in June averaged 81 percent, down one percentage point from June 2007.

- The average hotel room rate in May was HK$1,129 (US$145), up 5.4 percent from the same month a year ago. ($1=7.8 Hong Kong Dollar)

旅局推「潮玩香港」吸內地客


(星島)8月4日 星期一 05:30

(星島日報 報道)去年訪港內地旅客有一成多增長，為免「自由行」效應趨淡風，旅發局總幹事劉鎮漢 接受專訪時表示，局方已將宣傳針對曾多次來港的內地旅客，加強推廣本土深度旅遊，例如向內地年輕人推介樓上鋪和高科技產品，實行「潮玩香港」；旅發局又計畫將情人節和萬聖節包裝特別行程，希望內地自由行 像港人一樣，玩得夠地道。

　　

　　旅發局總幹事劉鎮漢接受本報專訪時指出，自由行在○三年七月底開放的第一個半年，已有六十六萬七千多人次訪港，但今年上半年就有四百三十六萬人次，增加逾六倍，累積自由行旅客更逾三千萬人次。

　　今年取消五一黃金周後，內地旅客有否減少，劉鎮漢認為還要看三個「小黃金短假」的總旅客人數有否下跌。他指今年清明節及端午節 長周末，總計有二十九萬五千人次訪港，關鍵在今年中秋節能否吸引逾二十四萬五千人次，才可超過去年五一黃金周的五十四萬內地旅客。

　　再無分淡旺季

　　他亦承認，內地自由行來港趨勢已變得平均化，無分淡旺季。旅發局統計顯示，去年六成四內地旅客都是多次來港，更有四成自由行已來港六次或以上。 因此，旅發局在內地推廣方面，會就不同客群和來港模式，主攻兩大策略，如針對大部分廣東省和已多次來港旅客，會重點推介香港深度旅遊，除綠色旅遊和文化遊，還有去年起與內地《城市畫報》合作推出的旅遊小冊子，「例如推出電車美食遊，介紹坐電車發掘港島區沿途美食。」

　　旅發局亦針對三成二十多歲、最捨得花錢的年輕自由行旅客，教他們「潮玩」香港，「我們會向年輕旅客提供多些update本地吃喝玩樂資源，哪裏有抵吃美食、新出名牌服飾、高科技電玩產品，甚至現時香港年輕人喜歡的樓上鋪購物，讓他們好似本地人一樣玩法，就會不時再來港。」

　　包裝情人節特別行程

　　要香港旅遊變得多元化，劉鎮漢透露，除了除夕倒數、聖誕節和農曆新年花車等大型活動，旅發局正構思，利用現有節日氣氛濃厚的情人節和萬聖節去吸引內地旅客，「香港的情人節滿街都是拿着花束的情侶，又有特色情人餐，較內地更有氣氛，內地旅客可以來港過一個難忘的情人節。」

　　而海洋公園 和迪士尼 的萬聖節鬼屋亦成為港人必玩活動，加上蘭桂坊 滿街嘩鬼，旅發局亦考慮向內地旅客推介，更構思在星光大道搞搞新意思，例如考慮請嘩鬼出沒娛賓。至於三月淡季，劉鎮漢亦說可以借助七人欖球賽、馬會的打吡大賽和足球賽事等，變成「動感三月」，亦是另一噱頭。

(星島)8月4日 星期一 05:30
(綜合報道)

(星島日報 報道)「自由行」效應減退，加上內地開放到台灣 觀光，本港極可能流失一批內地旅客。旅發局表示，正與台灣旅遊業界研究「港台 一程多站」聯遊的合作可能性，例如香港加台北五天精華遊等，到台灣觀光，再去香港主題公園玩樂。

　　旅發局總幹事劉鎮漢 表示，去年訪港台灣旅客有二百二十萬人次，當中有一百五十萬人是過境性質的即日離港，以每人消費二百元計算，即為本港帶來三億元經濟效益。而七十萬名過夜台灣旅客，每人消費達五千多元；所以即使流失過境台灣旅客，只要爭回六萬名過夜的台灣旅客來港，即可彌補這三億元損失。

　　「其實一百五十萬名台灣客不會一下子消失，始終直航機位有限，而且八至九成都是去廣東省為主，所以經香港返內地亦理所當然。」另外，大量內地旅客湧到台灣旅行，當地酒店價格已飆升，與香港酒店價格相近，「如果台灣貴了，就可能選擇來香港。」

　　他認為「港、台」聯遊絕對有市場，現時內地旅客可以去台灣，當然參加「九天環島遊」走馬看花一轉，但將來就會重點玩深度旅遊，屆時香港可以搭配台北、台中或高雄等地四至五天精華遊，去台灣景點觀光，再來香港玩主題公園和購物。他透露，至今旅發局未正式就港台一程多站旅遊，與台灣交通觀光局直接商討，但旅發局已經與台灣旅遊業界研究不同行程的方案。記者 吳雋妍

Sik Sik Yuen Starts Two-Year $140m Capital Development Construction Project for Wong Tai Sin Temple Expected to Be a Major Boost for Wider Appreciation of Traditional Chinese Culture and Tourism


Date: 02.04.2008




Hong Kong, 2 April 2008 – Sik Sik Yuen, the charity organisation which manages Wong Tai Sin Temple, has announced a two-year $140 million capital development construction project for what is perhaps Hong Kong’s best-known place of worship and one of Hong Kong’s iconic tourist sites.

This project serves the Yuen’s objective to carry on its guiding spirit of “Practicing Benevolence” to preserve for posterity and promote and generate a greater appreciation of traditional Chinese culture and further develop the Yuen’s charitable activities, whilst boosting tourism at the same time.

The funds required by the enlargement of the Main Altar and Praying Platform and the construction of the new Yuen Sun Hall, Wong Tai Sin Temple’s most extensive renovation in 35 years adding 744 square meters of space, have been provided by worshippers and drawn from Sik Sik Yuen’s own reserves. Moreover, many of the faithful have also donated supporting services free of charge. The land utilisation of the Wong Tai Sin Temple will be enhanced by the construction of the Yuen Sun Hall, an additional shrine honouring 60 Taoist deities, through creating a new lower ground floor under the Praying Platform of the Main Altar.

Close to 5 million visitors stopped by Wong Tai Sin Temple during 2007, including a significant proportion of overseas tourists. The new facilities will incorporate more traditional Chinese architectural elements whilst providing a bigger platform for a wider appreciation of the proud cultural heritage of Hong Kong and China both here and abroad as well as advancing tourism. With commencement of this project, Sik Sik Yuen will play a leading role in preserving traditional Chinese religious culture and contribute to its continued development.

The expanded Wong Tai Sin Temple will also become a more effective forum for Sik Sik Yuen to advance its charitable contributions encompassing youth education, medical assistance and care for the elderly.

“Enlarging the Main Altar and Praying Platform and erecting the new Yuen Sun Hall honouring 60 Taoist deities will ensure Wong Tai Sin Temple will remain true to its heritage as a major religious place of worship and a Chinese cultural site, and true to Sik Sik Yuen’s community service commitment,” said Mr Lee Yiu Fai, Chairman cum Temple Supervisor of Sik Sik Yuen. “During its preparations, the Development Committee of Sik Sik Yuen intensively researched a wide range of text sources and observed a number of famous temples and museums, to draw on the experience of the traditional Chinese sculpture techniques and decorative architectures.”

The sacred portrait of Wong Tai Sin, the patron deity in the Main Altar, will be moved to the Hall of Fung Ming House at an official ceremony on 6 April. During the two-year renovation, visitors are welcome to continue their worship rituals in this Hall. Sik Sik Yuen has set up effective communication channels to address potential inconvenience for visitors. Signs and banners are to be posted and pamphlets are to be distributed directing visitors to the new location of worship. Details of the temporary worship arrangments have also been forwarded through correspondence with Hong Kong Tourism Board and tour operators to arrange advance notification to travellers.

“The redevelopment plan represents another important milestone for the Yuen. We look forward to gaining more endorsement and support from the community at large. We are grateful for the support of the concerned parties and our worshippers who have been assisting Sik Sik Yuen to promote the more inspiring facets of Chinese culture to the youth and the general public in Hong Kong, and which will complement our charity activities,” said Mr Lee. “We anticipate the renovated Wong Tai Sin Temple will become a much more attractive destination for tourists, and will also enhance Hong Kong’s position as a centre of traditional Chinese culture unique in all of China,” he added.

In addition to the cultural benefits provided by Wong Tai Sin Temple, Sik Sik Yuen contributes to the community through charitable activities on a number of fronts including education, medical assistance and elderly care.

In the field of education, the Yuen has practiced the belief that education should be available to all, setting up five primary schools, five secondary schools and one through-train school, the Ho Yu College and Primary School as well as six kindergartens with more than 10,000 students and 800 staff to cultivate the youth in the best Chinese tradition.

Sik Sik Yuen has been ministering to the needy at the grassroots for more than 80 years. Since setting up its Herbal Clinic offering free consultation and medication in 1924, the Yuen has gone on to extend and diversify medical services by establishing our General Clinic, Dental Clinic and Physiotherapy Centre providing professional and affordable medical services and subsidised medicines to the public, benefiting about 100,000 Hong Kong residents annually.

For elderly care, Sik Sik Yuen runs 17 senior citizens’ service units, including five homes for the elderly with some 800 residents, two district community centres, one health care services centre, one social centre and eight neighborhood centres. Total membership of the services centres has topped 10,000.

Belying Wong Tai Sin Temple’s status as a major holy Taoist site, the Sik Sik Yuen is a charity organisation which also embraces Confucianism and Buddhism and the Temple features shrines devoted to those two systems of belief, the Yue Heung Shrine and the Confucian Hall, respectively.

# # #

About Sik Sik Yuen

Sik Sik Yuen, the religious charity organisation practicing Taoism, Buddhism and Confucianism, was established in 1921 to manage the Wong Tai Sin Temple, one of Hong Kong’s most famous place of worship as well as a major tourism site in Hong Kong. Adhering to the benevolent philosophy of Wong Tai Sin himself, “To act benevolently and to teach benevolence,” Sik Sik Yuen has been ministering to the needy for more than 80 years through education, medical assistance and care for the elderly. In education, Sik Sik Yuen has set up five primary schools, five secondary schools and one through-train school as well as six kindergartens. The Yuen offers diversified medical services through its Herbal Clinic General Clinic, Dental Clinic and Physiotherapy Centre. For the elderly, Sik Sik Yuen runs 17 senior citizens’ service units.

上月訪港旅客升1成但非內地旅客人數續跌
【19:07】2008年08月25日

http://news.on.cc/ncnews/hknews/img/ncbrka01_20080825190742_big.jpg

【on.cc 專訊】旅發局公佈，上月訪港旅客近271萬人次，較去年同月上升1成。首7月累計旅客逾1,689萬人次，較去年同期上升9%。在上月訪港旅客中，有166萬來自內地，較去年同月上升19%，但來自美洲地區旅客僅13.4萬人次，較去年同月下跌12%，歐洲、非洲及中東旅客亦減少11%。旅發局指，受到燃油附加費上漲、全球經濟放緩，與及內地收緊外國旅客入境簽證影響，長途市場的訪港旅客人次持續下跌。

上月本港酒店入住率不足9成
【19:19】2008年08月25日

【on.cc專訊】 旅發局公布，上月酒店平均入住率為89%，較去年同期下跌1%。以東區酒店入住率較高，達91%。酒店平均房租為1,095元，去年同月上升6%。另外，在上月整體旅客中，在港逗留一天以上的「過夜旅客」約佔59.6%，較去年同月下跌0.3%。

此外，上月訪港「個人遊」旅客達101萬人次，較去年同月上升27% ，該等旅客佔上月內地旅客61%。今年首7月「個人遊」旅客為538萬人次，較去年同期升16%。

TABLE-Hong Kong July visitor arrivals up 10.4 pct yr/yr

Aug 25 (Reuters) - Visitor arrivals to Hong Kong rose 10.4 percent in July from a year earlier to 2.70 million, the Hong Kong Tourism Board said on Monday.

This brings cumulative arrivals for the first seven months of 2008 to 16.89 million, up 9.1 percent from the same period last year.

Following is a summary of visitor arrivals by Country/Territory in July.


No. of % Growth
Country/Territory Arrivals Year/Year
Mainland China 1,660,243 + 19.4
South & Southeast Asia 222,196 - 3.1
Taiwan 214,586 + 0.6
North Asia 184,375 + 2.4
Europe, Africa & the Middle East 151,709 - 10.8
The Americas 134,311 - 11.6
Australia, New Zealand &
South Pacific 61,677 - 3.5
Macau 80,278 + 43.5

- Hotel occupancy in July averaged 89 percent, down one percentage point from a year earlier.

- The average hotel room rate in July was HK$1,095 (US$140), up 6 percent from the same month a year ago. ($1=7.8 Hong Kong Dollar)

Four hotel sites valued at HK$6b on land application list
23 August 2008
South China Morning Post

The Lands Department yesterday announced that four hotel development sites are now available from the land application list, making them eligible for auction.

The sites, in Kwun Tong, Kowloon Bay and Tin Shui Wai, are believed to be worth a combined HK$6.04 billion.

The Kwun Tong plot, at the junction of Shun Yip Street and Wai Yip Street, is the most valuable as it is on the waterfront and has the largest development scale.

Alnwick Chan Chi-hing, executive director at Knight Frank, said the site might be valued at up to HK$2.74 billion or HK$3,000 per square foot.

The 76,241 square foot plot, next to Kowloon Bay Factory Estate, could be developed into a hotel with a total gross floor area of 914,897 sq ft. The government has imposed a building height restriction of 100 metres on it.

Mr Chan said the hotel could provide 1,830 rooms if the average room size was about 500 sq ft.

However, he believed it would not attract too many developers as the management and investment costs of a large hotel were high.

A 71,042 sq ft site at the junction of Wang Kwong Road and Kai Cheung Road, next to the Auxiliary Police Headquarters in Kowloon Bay, is also on the land application list.

It is valued at about HK$2.13 billion or HK$2,500 per square foot. It could be developed into a hotel with a gross floor area of 852,509 sq ft and provide 1,705 rooms.

Another site in Kowloon Bay, next to International Plaza, could accommodate a hotel with a gross floor area of 333,124 sq ft and provide 666 rooms. The 27,760 sq ft plot was worth about HK$833 million or HK$2,500 per square foot, Mr Chan said.

The site in Tin Shui Wai, near Vianni Cove housing estate, could provide a gross floor area of 279,864 sq ft with 560 rooms.

The site is worth HK$336 million or only HK$1,200 per square foot, but Mr Chan expected developers would not be interested as it is far from central areas.

本月訪港旅客料跌５％
28/08/2008




【 本 報 訊 】 奧 馬 賽 事 被 港 府 視 為 「 吸 客 」 招 數 ， 但 「 埋 單 」 計 數 卻 未 能 打 響 如 意 算 盤 ， 反 而 更 要 「 諗 計 」 在 餘 下 四 個 月 扭 轉 劣 勢 。 旅 遊 發 展 局 主 席 田 北 俊 昨 指 ， 八 月 訪 港 旅 客 初 步 計 算 較 去 年 同 月 下 跌 百 分 之 五 ， 即 約 有 二 百 六 十 二 萬 人 次 ， 是 今 年 首 度 錄 得 跌 幅 的 月 份 ； 當 中 內 地 客 量 跌 幅 較 少 ， 跌 百 分 之 一 點 六 ， 而 歐 美 市 場 客 量 則 屬 重 災 區 ， 同 跌 一 成 。

由 於 本 月 跌 幅 強 勁 ， 令 本 港 今 年 截 至 八 月 的 累 計 旅 客 量 僅 約 一 千 九 百 萬 ， 與 去 年 同 期 相 比 ， 僅 升 百 分 之 七 點 三 ， 較 截 至 上 月 的 升 幅 百 分 之 九 點 一 大 為 收 窄 。

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盼 客 量 下 月 起 逐 漸 回 升
他 亦 坦 言 ， 目 前 環 球 經 濟 差 ， 加 上 美 國 次 按 問 題 ， 均 會 減 低 旅 客 外 遊 消 費 意 欲 ， 但 暫 時 無 意 調 整 旅 客 預 測 ， 稍 後 會 於 萬 聖 節 及 聖 誕 節 大 力 推 廣 ， 亦 希 望 海 外 旅 客 會 繼 因 奧 運 「 中 國 熱 」 的 因 素 而 增 加 到 內 地 及 香 港 。

香 港 入 境 旅 遊 接 待 協 會 會 長 梁 耀 霖 指 ， 八 月 入 境 旅 客 量 大 跌 ； 即 使 內 地 市 場 跌 幅 較 小 ， 也 可 能 是 「 即 日 來 回 」 個 人 遊 旅 客 多 造 成 的 假 象 。 但 他 相 信 ， 訪 客 量 下 月 會 逐 漸 回 升 ， 其 後 到 十 月 黃 金 周 、 十 一 月 會 展 期 及 十 二 月 聖 誕 節 ， 相 信 能 追 回 流 失 客 量 。

田 北 俊 為 立 法 會 選 舉 新 界 東 候 選 人 之 一 ， 其 餘 參 選 名 單 包 括 劉 慧 卿 名 單 、 鄭 家 富 名 單 、 黃 成 智 名 單 、 蕭 思 江 名 單 、 李 子 榮 、 梁 國 雄 、 湯 家 驊 名 單 、 龐 愛 蘭 及 劉 江 華 名 單 。

Michelin to launch Hong Kong-Macau guide
29 August 2008

HONG KONG (AP) - Michelin says it will launch a Hong Kong and Macau guide in December -- its second Asian guide after the launch of a Tokyo edition last year.

The French tire maker said in a statement on its Web site Friday its inspectors have been in Hong Kong and Macau since late 2007.

Former British colony Hong Kong is known for its gourmet Chinese and Western cuisine. Nearby gambling enclave Macau is a popular destination for Portuguese cuisine inherited from its colonial rule under that country.

The guide will be published in both Chinese and English.

Yikes, big drop in tourists, especially from Europe and the Americas, can anyone speculate on the reasons why that might be?

^ Long-haul flight fares, fuel surcharges + general downturn in the economy

Starwood sees demand for W hotel brand
18 August 2008
South China Morning Post

New York-listed Starwood Hotels and Resorts opens its first W Hotel in Hong Kong next month against a troubled backdrop for the global tourism industry.

The W chain is branded to distinguish it from the Sheraton and Westin hotels also operated by Starwood. The 393-room W Hotel due to open in tower two of the Cullinan development on the West Kowloon waterfront will be the first of its kind in China.

Damon Page, the general manager of W Hotel Hong Kong, said bookings for the about 200 guest rooms available since the hotel's soft opening on August 8 were strong, with a minimum charge of more than HK$2,200 per room per night.

"We are now fine-tuning our hotel and will offer rates that are competitive with comparable hotels such as the Shangri-La in Kowloon and the Marriott and Conrad hotels across the harbour," Mr Page said.

The W Hotel tariff was about half the nearly HK$4,000 per night that five-star hotels in Central charged on average, some analysts said.

Competition among hotels for visitors is heating up in Kowloon, with the 30-year-old Miramar Hotel on Nathan Road due to relaunch after a HK$300 million makeover.

W Hotel competed on offering "whatever guests want and whenever they want it, as long as it is legal", and would focus on lifting its brand awareness in the city rather than chasing after higher room rates and occupancy, Mr Page said.

If the relaunch of Miramar Hotel is a prologue to longer-term competition in the industry, the real battle for W Hotel will take place when the 300-room Ritz-Carlton atop the 118-storey International Commerce Centre (ICC) opens next door.

"We see Ritz and W complementing each other," Mr Page said. "Competition is healthy."

The two hotels are key components of the residential cum office and retail development at Kowloon Station, a location that some analysts are predicting will emerge as a business and financial hub once the ICC is completed in 2010.

As the United States-led economic slowdown spreads, Mr Page expects demand for high-end hotels in the vicinity will rise along with the relocation of major investment banks and offices to ICC.

About 90 per cent of ICC's office space has so far been leased and tenants include Morgan Stanley, Credit Suisse, and Deutsche Bank.

UBS analyst Eric Wong said the growing supply of top-end hotels meant a more competitive landscape, but it still was not enough to meet rising demand for such accommodation in Hong Kong.

"The newcomers are still not enough to feed demand. The more new international hotels come to the city, the better," Mr Wong said.

"Have you ever seen any world cities that have an average occupancy in five-star hotels that hovers consistently at 80 per cent? Hong Kong is one of the very few."

Although punishing oil prices have hurt demand for long-haul travelling, Mr Wong expected that the yield of Hong Kong's high-end hotel sector, or revenue per available room, would grow 8 per cent this year.

City still a big attraction for mainland visitors
Hong Kong Standard
Friday, September 05, 2008

Hong Kong continues to be a big draw for mainlanders, with 162,100 more travelers crossing the border within the November-December period in 2007 than in the previous year. That is a rise of 1.8 percent compared with the same period in 2006, a survey found.

Visitors from the mainland comprised about 16 percent of all cross- border trips last year, or about 76,800 trips a day, according to the Planning Department's Cross-boundary Travel survey.

The 16 percent was part of the total 6.9 million trips recorded during the time frame last year, or an average of 490,000 trips daily. Leisure traffic accounted for more than half the trips.

With a shorter-than-usual Golden Week later this month, Hong Thai Travel deputy general manager Daniel Chan Kin-pang predicts less mainlanders will visit Hong Kong. But Hong Kong people are using more vacation opportunities to visit the mainland, with leisure trips making up half of all cross-border trips.

Business trips made up a little over one-fifth, or 22 percent.

Shenzhen was the main final destination for most Hong Kong travelers, with close to 67.7 percent, or 3.3 million trips, from Hong Kong.

^^ Old statistics on such a recent article. And yes, I'm wondering why I didnt think of the most obvious reason...

The stats posted are curious, though, I didn't think the proportion of Mainland visitors is so high. I presume the numbers (>1.6 million) include people to travel to SZ and back for work, etc? Otherwise, I'm very surprised mainlanders account for nearly 2/3 of all visitors...

Mainlanders cannot freely enter HK for work. Cross-border commutes happen when HKers live in Shenzhen enter HK to work. Those are not mainlander visits.

Cross-boundary trips by Mainlanders surge




Cross-boundary trips by Mainland visitors rose 18% last year to a daily average of 76,800, according to a Planning Department survey. More than half were under the Individual Visit Scheme.



The Cross-boundary Travel Survey 2007 was conducted at 11 immigration checkpoints from November 19 to December 2. A total of 55,600 passengers and 16,100 drivers were interviewed.



About 6.9 million, or a daily average of 490,900, cross-boundary passenger trips were made during the survey period, a 10% rise on the 2006 findings.



Trips by Hong Kong people remained the largest share, constituting 71% of all cross-boundary trips. Half were for leisure, followed by business (22%) and trips to visit relatives and friends (17%).



The share of Mainland visitors rose to 16%. About 54% of Mainland visitors came to Hong Kong for leisure, 18% for business and 17% to visit relatives and friends.



There were 662,400 frequent travellers, usually travelling at least once a week, between the Mainland and Hong Kong. The most common trips were for leisure (39%) and business (32%).



There were 6,300 students crossing the boundary to attend schools in Hong Kong, up 28% on 4,900 figure for 2006.



Cross-boundary vehicle trips rose 6% with private car trips surging 21%, reaching on average of 14,100 a day. Trips by container trucks and other goods vehicles dropped 3% and 1%.

'China factor' holds the key to tourism growth
8 September 2008
South China Morning Post

Hong Kong's tourism sector is expected to remain strong despite the global economic woes and sky-high oil prices, industry insiders say.

On Wednesday, Shangri-La Asia announced its net income had fallen fell 15 per cent to US$135.7 million in the first half, its first profit decline in four years. Chief financial officer Madhu Rao said the Hong Kong-listed hotel operator will be "lucky" to meet its 8 per cent full-year growth target for revenue per available room, an industry gauge known as revpar (revenue per available room).

"While Beijing hotels saw uplift in occupancies during the Olympics in August, Shangri-La expects occupancies for the overall portfolio to remain lackluster till global economic sentiment turns more positive," UBS analysts CJ Lee and Eric Wong said in a note.

According to data supplied by the Hong Kong Tourism Board, monthly visitor numbers have grown steadily year-on-year for this year. In a report, the board said visitor arrivals to Hong Kong in the first six months of this year had grown by 8.9 per cent to 14,185,504, putting it on track to meet year-end targets.

However, the report said there was a drop of more than 10 per cent in the numbers of visitors from Europe and the United States.

The Hong Kong figures contrast sharply with others in the region, such as Singapore where the tourism board recently announced that it was unlikely to meet its target of 10.8 million visitors for the year.

There has also been some concern in the market about a possible downturn in the tourist market as some Hong Kong-listed hotels and tour operators had seen a steady decline in their stock prices this year.

However, many industry insiders said the situation was not bleak.

Andrew Chan, Asia managing director at TMS Asia Pacific, a recruitment firm specialising in travel, tourism and hospitality, and human resources services, said this highlighted the need for hospitality and tourism operators to be flexible.

"If [Hong Kong hospitality and tourism operators] are reliant on business from the US, Europe and Australia, which traditionally yields higher returns for them, they need to be prepared for tougher times, as I don't feel the US economy will pick up before 2009," Mr Chan said. He suggests that the hospitality and tourism sector should instead focus on inter-Asia travellers.

"The China factor is certainly holding Asia's [tourism] growth, and this extends into Hong Kong and supplements other parts of the region as well, and it is only going to get bigger," Mr Chan said.

This is a segment of the market that Hong Kong tourism authorities are working hard to capitalise on, particularly as the mainland is expected to become the world's most popular travel destination in 2014.

"We see great opportunities to leverage the inbound traffic to China through Hong Kong's gateway position," said a spokesperson from the Hong Kong Tourism Board.

"One of our key strategic focuses is to co-operate with mainland partners, especially those in the Pearl River Delta region, to develop combo-itineraries featuring Hong Kong and mainland cities. Our target is to encourage pre- and post-China visits and to extend stays in Hong Kong by offering excursions to the Pearl River Delta."

Mr Chan, however, cautions that companies will need to adjust their business models in order to cater for these travellers. "Asians generally aren't huge spenders when it comes to food and beverage, but this is a big part of tourism revenue. The dynamic has changed and businesses are going to have to change along with it," Mr Chan said.

In addition, tourism and hospitality insiders said that there were a number of other important factors to consider when assessing the health of listed companies in the sector besides the global economy.

"China [suffered a number of] catastrophes during the first half of this year. There was the snowstorm, the flooding and the earthquake," said a research analyst from a major European bank, who asked not to be named. These factors, he said, placed a significant damper on the tourism sector, which he said accounted for falling room nights. Barring any other natural disaster, he anticipates that the sector will pick up in the fourth quarter of this year.

Other factors, such as the six-month Shanghai Expo next year, are also expected to be drawcards, as are a number of casinos opening in Singapore and the continued growth of Macau's gaming industry.

In addition, should the market take a significant downturn, many Hong Kong-listed property developers working on hospitality projects are expected to escape from any fallout."For a lot of property developers the downturn in the tourism market is not a huge problem for them," said Manfred Ho, a research analyst with BOCI Research.

"Firstly, the contribution of the hotel operations is still relatively small for these companies. Most of their revenue comes from property sales. Secondly, a lot of these hotel projects are still in the building phase and are not in operation. Some of these companies have also previously indicated that they will try to spin-off these operations once they are complete."

Whichever way one considers the market, the consensus is that while the tourism and hospitality sectors are facing tougher times ahead, it is far from a bleak picture seen elsewhere.

Ultimately, Mr Chan said, the health of the sectors depended on what operators and administrators make of the opportunities presented by inter-Asia travel.

"It is now up to tourism boards and operators to see how they package it up and synergise between destinations. We need to be cautious of global events, but we don't need to run and hide. We need to be savvy in how we rotate our markets," Mr Chan said.

In fact, this has already started. According to the Hong Kong Tourism Board it is already collaborating with a number of travel-trade partners, especially those in the long-haul markets, to roll out itineraries featuring the mainland and Hong Kong.

Visitors from Taiwan in line for easier time
Hong Kong Standard
Thursday, October 16, 2008

Donald Tsang is set to write a new page in Hong Kong's history with plans to boost relations with Taiwan.

The Beijing-friendly stance of Taiwan President Ma Ying- jeou, who was born in Hong Kong, has eased the passage of business visitors and tourists from Taiwan after years of deadlock under Ma's predecessor Chen Shui-bian.

Under Tsang's strategy, which will be implemented in January, the restriction on Taiwan visitors to two entry applications within any 30-day period will be lifted and the limit of stay for iPermit and multiple-entry permit holders extended from 14 days to 30.

"I have appointed the financial secretary [John Tsang Chun- wah] to head an interdepartmental steering committee. It has been examining and coordinating the overall strategy and action plan on closer economic and trade ties with Taiwan," the chief executive said. "With the improvement of cross-strait relations, I believe they offer us a good opportunity to deepen and broaden our economic activities in Taiwan."

Tsang hopes for a two-way flow, including greater interaction between Taiwan and Hong Kong businessmen.

The government is encouraging industrial and business leaders from both sides to form a nongovernment Hong Kong- Taiwan business cooperation committee similar to US and European Union groups of members from the private sector.

A similar committee is expected to be set up in Taiwan at the same time, a government source said.

Meanwhile, the Trade Development Council is finalizing the set-up of an office in Taipei.

The number of visitors from Taiwan has been increasing steadily. From January to August 2008, there were 1.565 million visits, a 2.3 percent increase on the same period last year. There were 2.296 million total visits last year.

"Ma, when he became president, said Taiwan would consider giving visa-free access to Hong Kong residents," the source said. At present, SAR passport holders need to get a two- week visa on arrival in Taiwan, or apply for an online visa for two visits valid for three months.

Turmoil leaves no room for bonus
Hong Kong Standard
Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Hotel workers who were rewarded with a bonus in 2007 should not get their hopes up this year - and a pay rise could be out of the question too.

Federation of Hong Kong Hotel Owners executive director Michael Li Hon-shing said most city hotels are struggling to cut costs and some have put a freeze on hiring.

In a bid to combat the global financial meltdown, many hotels have also switched into crisis management mode.

Soaring inflation, rising operating costs and a weak Hong Kong dollar mean guests can forget bargains because dropping room rates is not an option, Li added.

Association members gave 42,000 employees bonuses equivalent to 2.7 to three months' pay and salary increases of 4percent last year.

Hotels have since become cautious over hiring. Some stopped recruiting completely while others went for restructuring.

James Li Kwok-yee, general manager of the Luk Kwok Hotel in Wan Chai, said casual workers are tapped to fill junior positions.

Li said occupancy rates for October dropped from 90 percent last year to about 85 percent because business travelers have tightened their belts.

Some opted for teleconferencing while hotel guests have either shortened their stay or shared rooms with colleagues.

Michael Li said it is difficult to predict the magnitude of the crisis' impact until after the end of the year. But he remains confident no hotel would be driven to close or sack staff - yet.

"We've been through many challenges before," he said.

Hong Kong is a territory located on China's south coast on the Pearl River Delta, and borders Guangdong province in the north and faces the South China Sea in the east, west and south. It has a population of 6.9 million people, and is one of the most densely populated areas in the world.
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TABLE-Hong Kong Oct visitor arrivals down 1.4 pct yr/yr

November 27 (Reuters) - Visitor arrivals to Hong Kong fell 1.4 percent in October from a year earlier to 2.53 million, data from the Hong Kong Tourism Board showed.

This brings cumulative arrivals for the first 10 months of 2008 to 24.3 million, up 6.0 percent from the same period last year.

Following is a summary of visitor arrivals by country/territory in October.

No. of % Growth
Country/Territory Arrivals Year/Year
Mainland China 1,373,910 + 1.1
South & Southeast Asia 269,075 - 5.3
Europe, Africa & the Middle East 218,383 -12.2
The Americas 165,300 -15.3
North Asia 173,939 + 2.3
Taiwan 194,925 + 5.4
Australia, New Zealand &
South Pacific 79,849 + 4.8
Macau 57,359 +15.3

- Hotel occupancy in October averaged 85 percent, down four percentage points from a year earlier.

- The average hotel room rate in October was HK$1,429 (US$183.2), down 6.8 percent from the same month a year ago. ($1=7.8 Hong Kong Dollar)

Michelin launches edition of Hong Kong and Macau culinary guide
2 December 2008

HONG KONG (AP) - The Michelin Guide is extending its reach into China with a new edition ranking dining destinations in Hong Kong and Macau for the first time, the company said Tuesday.

The French bible of gastronomy featuring 251 restaurants and hotels in the two Chinese cities is Michelin's second guide outside Europe and the United States. The debut Tokyo edition was published in Nov. 2007, with eight restaurants receiving Michelin's highest three-star rating.

Michelin awarded 40 stars to 28 restaurants in Hong Kong and Macau, and two venues got the top ranking.

Lung King Heen in Hong Kong's luxurious Four Seasons Hotel received three stars, while the hotel's French eatery Caprice won two stars.

Inspectors also decided Robuchon a Galera at Macau's Lisboa Hotel, owned by casino mogul Stanley Ho, was worthy of Michelin's highest award.

The team of 12 undercover inspectors, including two Chinese, have been in Hong Kong and Macau testing about 1,200 establishments since late 2007, according to Michelin Guides Director Jean-Luc Naret.

Michelin plans to expand the guide into other parts of China, Naret told a news conference in Hong Kong.

Former British colony Hong Kong is known for its gourmet Chinese and Western food, while nearby gambling enclave Macau is known for the Portuguese cuisine inherited from its former colonial rulers.

The guide, which will go on sale on Friday, will be published in both Chinese and English.

TABLE-Hong Kong Nov visitor arrivals down 1.1 pct yr/yr

December 24 (Reuters) - Visitor arrivals to Hong Kong in November fell 1.1 percent from a year earlier to 2.42 million, data from the Hong Kong Tourism Board showed.

This brings cumulative arrivals for the first 11 months of 2008 to 26.7 million, up 5.3 percent from the same period last year.

Following is a summary of visitor arrivals by Country/Territory in November.

No. of % Growth
Country/Territory Arrivals Year/Year
Mainland China 1,363,167 + 5.6
South & Southeast Asia 262,682 - 3.6
Europe, Africa & the Middle East 191,362 -10.9
The Americas 148,176 -16.9
North Asia 173,456 -14.0
Taiwan 170,969 - 5.0
Australia, New Zealand &
South Pacific 57,920 - 4.8

- Hotel occupancy in November averaged 88 percent, down five percentage points from a year earlier.

- The average hotel room rate in November was HK$1,228 ($157.4), down 11.2 percent from the same month a year ago. ($1=7.8 Hong Kong Dollar) (Reporting by Christina Lo)

Hong Kong tourism growth slows to 4.7 pct in 2008

HONG KONG, Jan 7 (Reuters) - Visitor arrivals to Hong Kong rose by a provisional 4.7 percent in 2008, totalling a record 29.5 million, according to data from the Hong Kong Tourism Board, but easing from a 10 percent increase in 2007.

The full-year provisional figures indicate December arrivals rose marginally, to 2.8 million from 2.79 million a year ago.

The tourism board is due to release December data and a breakdown of the 2008 figures later this month.

Slower growth in tourism is adding to the territory's economic woes as tourists -- who numbered three times Hong Kong's resident population last year -- account for 20-30 percent of retail sales.

Growth in tourism last year was mainly due to an increase in tourists from mainland China, who account for 55 percent of the territory's visitors, the tourism board said. Visitors from long-haul markets fell 3.9 percent last year.

Hong Kong tipped into recession in the third quarter of last year and economists expect it to continue to contract until at least the third quarter of this year. That would make it one of Asia's worst-performing economies with a few economists forecasting it could contract 2-3 percent in 2009.

As a trade and financial hub, the territory is being hit hard by the global financial crisis and economic downturn and that in turn is hurting consumer confidence.

Weakening consumer spending in the United States and Europe, together with a strong U.S. dollar, to which the Hong Kong dollar is pegged, will have deterred long-haul visitors in the second half of 2008 and that trend is likely to continue, analysts said.

China, aiming to provide support for the Hong Kong economy, last month vowed to further relax visa requirements to enable more mainland Chinese to travel freely to the territory.

However, a boom in tourism, triggered in 2003 when Beijing began allowing mainland Chinese to travel independently to Hong Kong, is over as China has now relaxed visa restrictions on travel to many other destinations as well.

Surging tourism helped Hong Kong's economy average annual growth of 7.3 percent between 2004 and 2007. The government forecast that economic growth eased to an estimated 3 to 3.5 percent in 2008.

「美酒佳肴年」挽港旅業
辦胡士托式音樂會 封蘭桂坊任飲任食

http://www.mingpaonews.com/20090115/_15GA002_.jpg
旅發局計劃與「毅行者」合作辦「香港遠足節」，吸引喜歡行山，又不受經濟影響的日本「銀髮族」。（資料圖片）
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除夕倒數，擬再於國金辦煙火倒數，並加強街頭表演。（資料圖片）
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2009年1月15日







【明報專訊】全球經濟倒退，港澳兩地今年入境旅客數字的預測均較為悲觀，香港旅遊發展局估計，今年訪客總數會減少1.6％；至於去年旅客增加逾一成的澳門，則以保持去年數字為目標。

預計旅客會下跌之下，旅發局將今年定為「2009香港美酒佳肴年」，計劃在多個飲食區推動折扣優惠，重頭戲是在蘭桂坊一帶封街，讓購票旅客可在區內食肆任飲任食。年中起，該局亦會舉辦連串嘉年華式的大型活動，包括正積極籌辦一年一度以年輕人為對象的「胡士托」式亞洲音樂會、香港遠足節，力谷年輕、長者等不同類型活動，去吸引旅客來港消費。

訪港客料跌1.6%

旅發局昨日向立法會提交的文件顯示，該局於2009/10年計劃向政府申請近3.2億元撥款，其中逾1.1億元用於舉辦大型活動。由於香港已寬免酒稅，加上米芝蓮剛在港推飲食指南，因此該局將今年定為「香港美酒佳肴年」，展示本港的環球美食。

旅發局將會與政府合作，11月在諾士佛台、蘭桂坊、蘇豪等主要飲食區推出美酒美食優惠。據了解，其中一項重頭活動，是將蘭桂坊一帶封路舉辦嘉年華會，讓預先購票旅客入內，免費任飲任食，並享受音樂演出。至於西貢、流浮山、鯉魚門等地，亦會舉辦海鮮節活動。消息人士指出，全年的活動亦會由美酒佳肴貫串，如在冬日節亦會推介火鍋、煲仔菜等時令美食。

辦遠足節吸銀髮族

另一新增活動，就是在10月舉行「香港遠足節」。旅發局計劃與「毅行者」合作，希望主辦機構樂施會可預留部分名額，讓海外旅客來港參賽及認識香港的綠色寶藏；旅發局亦會設計更多新的綠色旅遊產品，吸引喜歡行山，又不受經濟差影響的日本「銀髮族」等客群。

現有的大型活動，亦會加入新元素。原本主要力銷購物的「香港盛夏魅力」，亦會首次舉辦亞洲音樂會。旅發局計劃由今年起，每年邀請香港、台灣、內地、韓國等流行歌手，一連幾晚在港演出。消息人士解釋，音樂會有助吸納年輕及家庭客群，目前正物色合適場地，香港音樂界亦反應正面。至於2010年舉行的新春匯演，除仍會有花車巡遊外，更希望將整項活動變成5至7天的嘉年華會，讓表演團體可在本港其他地方表演。旅發局亦會趁情人節、母親節及萬聖節等，於內地、台灣等東南亞市場宣傳。

立法會旅遊界代表謝偉俊表示，已預計今年訪客會減少，甚至最壞的情仍未出現。他認同香港應多辦大型活動吸引旅客，但建議旅發局研究是否可將活動「外判」予民間團體舉辦，因為它們一般更具熱誠，旅發局只是資助它們，或能發揮槓桿效應，七人欖球賽便是最佳例子。

Hong Kong forecasts 1.6 pct drop in tourism in '09

HONG KONG, Jan 15 (Reuters) - Hong Kong expects tourist arrivals to fall 1.6 percent this year, putting further pressure on the recession-hit economy as visitors account for 20-30 percent of retail sales in the territory.

In a paper submitted to the Legislative Council, the Hong Kong Tourism Board projected visitor arrivals in 2009 of 29 million, down from a record 29.5 million last year. The global economic downturn, the recent introduction of direct flights between Taiwan and China and further appreciation of the U.S. dollar, to which Hong Kong's currency is pegged, could all dampen tourism this year, the board said.

It sees 4.1 percent growth in visitors from mainland China, who account for more than half of the territory's visitors, but sees a 9.2 percent plunge in visitors from elsewhere.

Visitor arrivals last year grew 4.7 percent from 2007 with visitors from mainland China, totalling 28.5 million, rising 8.9 percent.

The average length of stay remained at 3.3 days but tourists' overnight per capita spending rose 4.6 percent to HK$5,360 (US$687).

In 2009, the tourism board forecasts overnight per capita spending will decline 1.5 percent to HK$5,278.

A four-year boom in tourism after China in 2003 began allowing its citizens to travel to Hong Kong independently of tour groups helped Hong Kong's economy average economic growth of 7.3 percent between 2004 and 2007.

However, as an open, trade-reliant economy, the territory has been hit hard by the downturn in advanced economies and slipped into recession in third quarter of 2008. Economists expect it to remain in recession for most of this year as exports are falling and rising unemployment and weak wage growth will hurt consumer spending. (US$=HK$7.8)

Early settlement spot could be developed for tourism
20 September 2008
South China Morning Post

The government wants to develop Lau Fau Shan, the site of some of Hong Kong's earliest settlements, into a tourism and recreation spot.

The Planning Department yesterday commissioned an 18-month consultancy study, after which the public will be asked for its view on the direction development of the spot in the northwestern New Territories should take.

The department stressed that any changes should be compatible with the natural and cultural environments.

Famed for its seafood restaurants, Lau Fau Shan is recognised as an important part of Hong Kong's heritage because it is where some of the earliest settlers lived.

The landscape is defined by rocky outcrops, interspersed with villages and agricultural plots, and is connected with Tsim Bei Tsui, noted for its natural coastline.

The study brief prepared by the department covers 565 hectares and is divided into four areas: wetlands, seafood restaurants, the Deep Bay coast and large fish ponds.

The wetlands are mainly mature mangroves in Tsim Bei Tsui, providing an attractive habitat for birds. To promote eco-tourism, the study will explore the possibility of developing cycle tracks and walking trails around the wetland areas so that people can appreciate the natural scenery of the wetlands, recognised as of importance under the international Ramsar Convention.

The infrastructure could also be improved to avoid traffic congestion during weekends and public holidays, encouraging more people to dine at the hub of seafood restaurants, the department said.

Lau Fau Shan was famous for oyster farming before pollution by industrial activities in neighbouring Shenzhen.

A viewpoint with parking space and a widened road are also recommended for enjoying the Deep Bay coastline, seen as a distinctive natural asset for the area.

The consultancy will also study the possibility of opening up a few large fish ponds and neighbouring areas.

Lunar New Year arrivals boosted by mainlanders
7 February 2009
South China Morning Post

The number of mainland travellers visiting Hong Kong during the Lunar New Year holidays rose 5.1 per cent compared to the same period last year, according to the Tourism Board.

But the number of visitors from overseas dropped by 13.4 per cent when compared to the week-long Lunar New Year holiday period in February last year.

Figures from the board show that between January 25 and 31, 496,332 mainlanders visited Hong Kong. There were 171,930 overseas visitors in the same period.

If the figures were compared to those from January last year, the number of overseas visitors had dropped 15.3 per cent.

Total combined arrivals for the Lunar New Year holidays were 669,262, down 0.4 per cent on the corresponding period last year.

Board chairman James Tien Pei-chun said the main reason for the drop in overseas visitors was the weakening economic conditions in the US and Europe.

"Right now, more than a third of visitors to Hong Kong are from the mainland, which has become our lifeline. Although the overseas figures are disappointing, at least our compatriots have saved the day."

He said the economic situation was bound to worsen. "There will always be cheaper things tomorrow," he said.

He expressed disappointment with the decision by Hong Kong Disneyland to raise its admission price by 19 per cent - a move critics said would further deter visitors.

Mr Tien said the board would step up publicity on the mainland in a bid safeguard the flow of visitors. As a delegate to the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Mr Tien said he would lobby the central government to speed up the relaxation of travel restrictions so that more individual visitors could come to Hong Kong.

Meanwhile, Mr Tien, a former chairman of the Liberal Party, said this week's meeting between party leaders and officials of the central government's liaison office showed that the mutual relationship was fine despite the party's defeat in the September Legco elections.

Some government supporters have also questioned whether the Liberals are now aiming to become a centre-right party, given its opposition to the government's stance in several recent political controversies.

Luxury hotel eyes locals rather than tourists
12 February 2009
South China Morning Post

Competition for business is driving one new luxury hotel in Hong Kong to seek customers living next door rather than overseas.

Following the opening of the luxury 658-room SkyCity Marriott hotel next to Chek Lap Kok airport on January 22, the fellow five-star Hyatt Regency Hotel in Sha Tin has also opened to its first guests.

The hotel hopes to cash in on being next door to the Chinese University of Hong Kong and close to scores of multinational companies based at the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks. And then there are cross-border travellers. But with companies reducing their business travel, the hotel is eyeing guests from the new towns of Ma On Shan, Sha Tin and Tai Po.

"There is always a need to celebrate, to reward, to train, to have conferences and board meetings. It is business as usual at a different price," the general manager of the Hyatt Regency Sha Tin, Robert Hamer, said.

The Hyatt Regency is offering room rates as low as HK$1,000 a night until March 11, with analysts saying this could trigger a price war. The rate is relatively competitive, with rooms at the Royal Park Hotel starting from HK$750 a night, while the Regal Riverside Hotel is offering a HK$998 package for two. The Royal Park Hotel has recently added two restaurants to attract local diners.

Hong Kong Hotels Association executive director James Lu Shien-kwai said the economic turmoil had resulted in a fall in the number of guests, with hotels looking to next month's Hong Kong Sevens and large trade shows to boost business.

"There is no perfect time to open any hotel, be it in the economic downturn or economic boom. The best time is when it is ready for opening," he said. "The new Hyatt Regency is good news for customers but bad news for competitors."

Luxury hotel eyes locals rather than tourists
12 February 2009
South China Morning Post

Competition for business is driving one new luxury hotel in Hong Kong to seek customers living next door rather than overseas.

Following the opening of the luxury 658-room SkyCity Marriott hotel next to Chek Lap Kok airport on January 22, the fellow five-star Hyatt Regency Hotel in Sha Tin has also opened to its first guests.

The hotel hopes to cash in on being next door to the Chinese University of Hong Kong and close to scores of multinational companies based at the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks. And then there are cross-border travellers. But with companies reducing their business travel, the hotel is eyeing guests from the new towns of Ma On Shan, Sha Tin and Tai Po.

"There is always a need to celebrate, to reward, to train, to have conferences and board meetings. It is business as usual at a different price," the general manager of the Hyatt Regency Sha Tin, Robert Hamer, said.

The Hyatt Regency is offering room rates as low as HK$1,000 a night until March 11, with analysts saying this could trigger a price war. The rate is relatively competitive, with rooms at the Royal Park Hotel starting from HK$750 a night, while the Regal Riverside Hotel is offering a HK$998 package for two. The Royal Park Hotel has recently added two restaurants to attract local diners.

Hong Kong Hotels Association executive director James Lu Shien-kwai said the economic turmoil had resulted in a fall in the number of guests, with hotels looking to next month's Hong Kong Sevens and large trade shows to boost business.

"There is no perfect time to open any hotel, be it in the economic downturn or economic boom. The best time is when it is ready for opening," he said. "The new Hyatt Regency is good news for customers but bad news for competitors."

Hopes of 40m more visitors
Hong Kong Standard
Friday, February 20, 2009

Hong Kong could get up to 40 million more visitors when Shenzhen's individual visitor scheme is extended to other cities in Guangdong.

The current scheme is limited to migrants working in Shenzhen.

The extension proposal, announced at yesterday's Hong Kong, Guangdong and Macau liaison meeting, is subject to central government approval.

Officials from the three governments agreed to cooperate on eight aspects, including tourism, environmental protection, innovative technology and urban planning.

"The three governments proposed to expand the individual visit scheme to the whole Guangdong province," Chief Secretary for Administration Henry Tang Ying-yen said. They agreed to allow people from other provinces living in Guangdong to visit Hong Kong without returning to their home provinces to apply for a visa.

Permanent Guangdong residents will be allowed to apply for multiple-entry visas to Hong Kong instead of the current one-off visas for seven days.

Hong Kong Association of Travel Agents chairman Michael Wu Siu-ying believed the scheme could draw 40 million more mainlanders to the SAR. If the scheme can be implemented soon, the number of visitors can be increased by about 20 percent and offset the falling number of European and US visitors, Wu said. "That will benefit the retail and tourism industry," he said.

Tang said the three governments will introduce a special pilot quota system to allow vehicles to travel across the borders. He added if the pilot system is successful, it will pave the way for traffic using the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau bridge which will be completed in 2015.

Hong Kong adjusting market strategy to woo tourists

HONG KONG, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Hong Kong Tourism Board said on Friday it is adjusting its marketing strategies to work harder on the Chinese mainland market, in addition to depending on food and wine carnivals and the East Asian Games for support.

Visitor arrivals to Hong Kong grew 4.7 percent year on year to 29.5 million in 2008, but a detailed breakdown showed a decline of 0.9 percent in the fourth quarter due to the impacts of the global financial tsunami, said James Tien, chairman of the board.

Visitors to Hong Kong spend an average of 5,360 HK dollars (687 U.S. dollars) on one visit, up 4.6 percent year on year, statistics of the Tourism Board showed.

Visitor arrivals from the Chinese mainland grew 8.9 percent to hit 16.86 million and many of them were from the neighboring Pearl River Delta region.

Tien said the board projected a decline of 1.6 percent in visitor arrivals to Hong Kong in 2009, with a growth of 4.1 percent in mainland market and 0.4 percent in short-haul markets offset by a sharp decline of 12.4 percent in long-hauls.

But it is "challenging" to achieve the projected figure as the projection was made in November and the picture may get even worse amid the economic downturn, he added.

The Tourism Board will conduct a review in March, Tien told reporters.

Tien revealed that the Tourism Board is adjusting its marketing strategies and spending at least half of its resources to marketing on the mainland market.

More work will be done on the mainland to explore the market beyond the neighboring Guangdong province, and consumption tours will be better promoted in Guangdong.

The Tourism Board is also working harder on cruise tours and has charged a newly established department with promoting Hong Kong as a convention and exhibition hub.

Tien said Hong Kong will also stage an international wine fair and a food exposition in the second half of this year to increase the appeal of Hong Kong to visitors, and will capitalize on the East Asian Games due in Hong Kong in November.

Business set for huge boost from relaxed visa rules
Hong Kong Standard
Wednesday, March 04, 2009

Ten million Shenzhen residents are expected to flood Hong Kong under more relaxed entry rules, with the move tipped to bring great benefits to local tourism, entertainment and retail businesses.

Starting from April 1, qualified Shenzhen residents may apply for year-round multiple- entry visas to Hong Kong, Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen revealed yesterday. And from May 1, residents in Shenzhen with no registered households in Guangdong may also apply in Shenzhen to visit Hong Kong through the Individual Visit Scheme.

Tsang announced the new policy after meeting in Beijing with Wang Yang, Secretary of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee, and Guangdong governor Huang Huahua.

They agreed to push forward cooperation between Guangdong and Hong Kong on four major areas - infrastructure projects as well as industrial, environmental and educational cooperation. They also agreed to formulate regional cooperation plans in two specialized areas - jointly building a high-quality living community, and infrastructure construction.

A framework agreement on Hong Kong/ Guangdong cooperation is set to be drafted and signed by both sides.

Tsang said the two policies to extend the Individual Visitor Scheme as stated by the central government now have a timetable.

The Commerce and Economic Development Bureau estimates more than 8.6 million Shenzhen residents will benefit from the move. The bureau hopes the coverage of the measures can be extended to provinces other than Guangdong.

Asked if he will meet state leaders in Beijing, Tsang said arrangements had been made.

He will visit Tianjin today before attending the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

Meanwhile, Wang said yesterday's meeting was also aimed at understanding the effect of the financial tsunami on enterprises.

He also said there has been a breakthrough in the construction of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai- Macau Bridge and he is hopeful work on the project can begin this year.

TABLE-Hong Kong Feb visitor arrivals down 8.1 pct yr/yr

March 31 (Reuters) - Visitor arrivals to Hong Kong in February fell 8.1 percent from a year earlier to 2.16 million, data from the Hong Kong Tourism Board showed.

However, tourism was depressed by the fact that the Lunar New Year holiday fell in January this year, but in February last year. For January and February combined, visitor arrivals rose 1.8 percent from a year earlier, totalling 4.96 million.

Visitor arrivals: (pct change yr/yr):

Feb Jan Dec Nov Oct
-8.1 11.0 -0.2 -1.1 -1.4

Following is a summary of visitor arrivals by
Country/Territory in February.

No. of Pct growth
Country/Territory Arrivals Year/Year
Mainland China 1,345,291 - 6.7
South & Southeast Asia 176,716 + 4.3
Europe, Africa & the Middle East 136,620 -11.7
The Americas 101,017 -11.4
North Asia 163,234 -14.4
Taiwan 147,184 -17.3
Australia, New Zealand &
South Pacific 42,489 -10.8
Macau 49,774 -10.5

- Hotel occupancy in February averaged 76 percent, down 4 percentage points from a year earlier.

- The average hotel room rate in February was HK$1,014 ($130), down 10.4 percent from the same month a year ago. ($1=7.8 Hong Kong Dollar)

Shenzhen visas rush begins
Hong Kong Standard
Wednesday, April 01, 2009

About 2.2 million Shenzhen residents with permanent residence permits may now apply for 12-month Hong Kong multiple-entry visas in an expansion of the Individual Visit Scheme implemented in July 2003.

They had only been able to apply for double-entry visas valid for three or 12 months.

In anticipation of a rush of applications, Shenzhen Municipal Public Security Bureau said it has arranged additional application counters and deployed more than 100 police officers to facilitate applications.

Applicants may obtain a 12-month visa alongside their existing travel permits and stay in Hong Kong for up to seven days per visit.

Those younger than 18 must be accompanied by a parent or supervisor.

Online or postal applications have not yet been made available.

Civil servants and public officials are excluded from the new policy.

A staff member at Lo Wu Public Security Bureau said it anticipates the number of visa applicants to double to 1,500. It has added eight new application counters, bringing the total to 15.

Some residents said they will apply for a 12-month multiple entry visa as it will make it much easier for them to shop in Hong Kong.

Visitors from Shenzhen without permanent residency permits may apply for single entry visas from May 1.

This could bring another seven million Shenzhen residents to Hong Kong.

Top hotels to fill 10pc fewer rooms as executives practise prudence
6 April 2009
South China Morning Post

Hong Kong's top hotels are expected to fill about 10 per cent fewer rooms this year compared to a year ago as bankers and executives shy away from ostentatious displays of wealth amid the financial crisis.

Hong Kong Tourism Board data shows hotels charging average room rates of about HK$2,100 a night recorded an occupancy rate of 68 per cent in February, down 6 percentage points from a year ago.

In January, the year-on-year decline was more pronounced, falling to 71 per cent from 83 per cent.

Significantly, hotels in Central and Admiralty filled 61 per cent of their rooms in January and 64 per cent in February, down from 81 per cent and 75 per cent a year ago.

The executive director of the Hong Kong Hotels Association, James Lu Shien-kwai, said staying at pricey hotels on business trips was seen as politically incorrect in the current economic downturn. With the outcry over corporate bailouts and bonuses, many executives did not want to be seen to be spending extravagantly, he said.

"Before, business expenses were never really questioned because you were bound to get more business than what you spent.

"Now, it [expense claims] goes through several signatures because it's a very sensitive issue. So people are censoring and second-guessing themselves," Mr Lu said.

Guests at top hotels now tended to be entrepreneurs, people who spent their own money or high-ranking executives. Occupancy at these hotels was unlikely to recover until the economy improved, he said.

Although luxury hotels can cover their overheads by filling about 60 per cent of their rooms, some cost-cutting is inevitable. JW Marriott recently asked its staff to take unpaid leave ranging between one and four days a month.

At the same time, luxury hotels are resisting price cuts despite the difficult environment.

Many establishments are opting instead to attract guests with room upgrades, free breakfasts and other services offering value for money.

Mr Lu said price cuts would attract people who would otherwise avoid five-star hotels and may put off their loyal customers.

Hong Kong expects a drop in tourist revenue

HONG KONG, April 9 (Reuters) - Spending by tourists in Hong Kong rose 11.7 percent in 2008 but fell in the fourth quarter, a trend that is likely to continue as a result of the global economic downturn, the Hong Kong Tourism Board said on Friday.

"Depending on the economic conditions, our current projection is that both (total tourist expenditure) and the average per capita spending of overnight visitors will suffer a decline (in 2009)," James Tien, chairman of the tourism board, said in a statement.

Visitors spent HK$158.9 billion (US$20.4 billion) last year in the territory, up from HK$142.2 billion in 2007, according to the tourism board. It did not give a precise breakdown of quarterly spending figures.

Visitors from mainland China account for more than half of the territory's visitors, who totalled 29.5 million in 2008 -- more than four times the size of the local population and up 4.7 percent from 2007.

Overnight visitors from China were the highest spending of all tourists, forking out an average HK$2,138 per capita, up 16.7 percent from a year earlier.

Tourists contribute 20-30 percent of the territory's retail sales. Their numbers have been declining on an annual basis since October, apart from in January due to the Lunar New Year holiday. Weak tourism is aggravating an economic recession which began in the third quarter of last year. (US$=HK$7.8)

Shoppers drive change
8 April 2009
South China Morning Post

China's individual visit scheme allows travellers from the mainland to visit Hong Kong and Macau on an individual basis as opposed to previously restricted visits on business visas or in groups.

It was introduced on July 28, 2003 and the relaxation applied initially to residents of the four Guangdong cities of Dongguan, Foshan, Jiangmen and Zhongshan. But the scheme has since been expanded to cover 49 cities across China, and for Hong Kong the result has been a surge in mainland visitors.

According to the Hong Kong Tourism Board, mainland visitors accounted for 57.1 per cent of travellers to the city last year and almost all of these visitors - some 9.6 million - arrived under the scheme. The data clearly indicates that mainland visitors and in particular the scheme are the main contributors to Hong Kong's tourism business.

Retail markets benefit from this growth in mainland visitors for whom shopping constitutes more than 50 per cent of their total expenditure. In view of this trend, many retailers are keen to secure prime locations and expand operations to capture this spending.

Over a span of five years there has been a shift of in-demand locations directed mainly by the shopping behaviour of tourists. In the initial stages of the scheme mainlanders shopped mainly for gold jewellery, cosmetics and branded electronic gadgets. The shopping areas of Sai Yeung Choi Street and Nathan Road in Mong Kok were the most desired locations.

International brands have responded to the importance of Hong Kong as a major tourist destination for mainland visitors, taking the view that a flagship store in the city would provide a drawcard for the China market where wealth and demand for luxury foreign products is increasing.

From 2005, more international labels have opened flagship stores in Queen's Road Central and Canton Road, which are respectively the main luxury hub for Hong Kong Island and Kowloon.

Now almost every corner shop in Causeway Bay is occupied by a luxury watch boutique and Russell Street has been converted into "Watch Street". Rentals have risen to reflect the increased attraction and in prime retail locations rents have gone up threefold in five years.

Like most of the world's favoured travel destinations, prime retail locations are always in demand. Amid the global financial crisis, well-known international brands are still seeing solid demand from mainland visitors. Local brands selling leather goods, fashion and cosmetics are particular favourites.

Retailers are gathering in the prime shopping locations to concentrate their services and are willing to pay premium rentals to secure a shop in the recognised tourist landmarks as there is a guarantee of doing business. Furthermore, some retailers consider that if they are seen close to other better known labels, the synergy will help elevate their brand image and take them into the mainstream market.

Prime shopping locations are always the best and most reliable places for visitors to shop. Most visitors do not discover the second-tier shopping areas until they have visited the city several times and have the confidence to roam.

International labels seldom open stores in second-tier areas where market demographics may not be aligned with the image the brand is trying to achieve.

This has resulted in an increased diversification in the retail property sector in Hong Kong. The demand for prime retail locations has expanded enormously while the demand for shop spaces in the second-tier areas has declined.

Second-tier areas do not benefit from the tourism spending but they rely on the support of the local market. However, with the continuing negative effect of the slowing economy and the edging up of the unemployment rate, vacancy rates of retail shops in the second-tier areas are expected to increase further.

In the next few years, new supply in prime shopping locations will remain low. However, owing to some infrastructural redevelopment projects in some districts it is anticipated that there will be a shift of focus in prime retail areas.

For example, Mody Road was once acknowledged as the first developed commercial district in Tsim Sha Tsui during the 1970s. The street attracted high-end jewellers, tailors and shops with merchandise targeted at tourists.

Then the focus gradually shifted to Nathan Road and in the '80s there was a pure retail development completed on Nathan Road - Park Lane Shoppers Boulevard.

About 10 years ago Canton Road became a hub for local brands and a mix of trade. But now most of the top international labels are there.

When new grand-scale shopping facilities are completed in an old neighbourhood, it can breathe new life into the area. They provide a new retail configuration, attract retailers and help to reposition the area into a new shopping destination.

Portland Street is a good example. It is a block behind Nathan Road, and was a run-down and seedy area for locals. After the completion of Langham Place, the street has been transformed into a prime shopping location for locals and tourists alike.

The outlook of the second-tier areas is not all that grim. All it takes is a shift in retail focus or a chance for new shopping developments to strengthen its retail infrastructure to rebuild its prime position.

Helen Mak is director of Retail Services, Colliers International Hong Kong

How many visitors last year?

How many visitors last year?

29,506,616 - an increase of 4.7% on the 28.17 million arrivals welcomed in 2007

http://partnernet.hktb.com/pnweb/jsp/doc/listDoc.jsp?charset=en&doc_id=118558

Cheers.

Hong Kong eases visa rules for Taiwan visitors
15 April 2009
Agence France Presse

Hong Kong on Wednesday further eased the rules for visitors entering from Taiwan, the latest sign of thawing relations with China.

Taiwanese visitors travelling to China through Hong Kong would previously not have been able to enter the city unless they had a separate entry or exit endorsement for the mainland.

But the endorsement requirement will be scrapped on April 27 and visitors will be allowed to stay in the southern Chinese city for up to seven days, a Hong Kong immigration department spokesman said.

The move comes during a trip by the mayor of Taichung city, Jason Hu, and a 90-person Taiwanese delegation to Hong Kong.

Donald Tsang, Hong Kong's chief executive, said after a meeting with Hu that the trip was a "breakthrough" in relations, according to local broadcaster RTHK.

During a meeting with Hu, Tsang expressed the hope that ties could be strengthened in a number of areas, including trade, finance, tourism and education, according to an RTHK report.

Hu said stronger ties with Hong Kong would hopefully improve relations between Taiwan and the mainland, the report said.

Trade and travel links between China and Taiwan have been severely restricted since the two sides split at the end of a civil war in 1949, and were dire during the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party's eight years in government.

Beijing sees Taiwan as part of its territory awaiting reunification, by force if necessary.

Relations between the island and China have improved dramatically since President Ma Ying-jeou of the China-friendly Kuomintang became president last May.

Hong Kong, although it has a separate legal and immigration system from the mainland, has often been reluctant to entertain top Taiwanese officials for fear of offending Beijing.

Earlier this year, Hong Kong extended the limit of stay for Taiwanese visitors from 14 days to 30 days for holders of certain visas.

Tours explore Hong Kong's remnants of war
15 April 2009
Ottawa Citizen

Hong Kong has never lacked attractions to maintain travellers' interest. Packed within what China calls the "special administrative region" is all the big-city buzz one could ever desire. There are tram trips to the top of Victoria Peak to see the sky-scraping Hong Kong "central" district from above; busy street markets galore in neighbouring Kowloon across the harbour; and dining in the best Cantonese restaurants in both cities.

It's no surprise Hong Kong has stayed away from promoting some of its darker, more recent history - specifically, events during the Second World War when Japanese invaders captured the then-British colony.

But this is changing as the remains of selected sites from the Battle of Hong Kong have been added to official Hong Kong tourist itineraries.

These serve the dual purpose of recalling a difficult past and showing visitors greener aspects of Hong Kong beyond the city's intense glass and concrete environment. It's on walking tours in the hills that visitors find the overgrown remains of battle such as decaying concrete bunkers.

The tours also serve as reminders that most of the troops who fought the losing battle against Japanese forces were from the British Commonwealth - including two regiments of Canadian troops.

The Royal Rifles of Canada and the Winnipeg Grenadiers were among an Allied force numbering some 14,000 British, Scottish, Indian and Canadians. These had been mustered in anticipation of a Japanese invasion - suspicions that were justified when the Japanese launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. The very next day, the Japanese attack on Hong Kong began.

Evidence of the next two-plus weeks of the battle still remain in Kowloon and Hong Kong, including chipped and battered underground concrete bunkers, ammunition magazines and pillboxes. The western edge of Kowloon, on the Chinese mainland, is where the Japanese troops first met Allied defences. The so-called Gin Drinkers Line was a barrier of pillboxes linked by tunnel that was eventually battered into submission, opening up the approaches to Kowloon and to Hong Kong Island itself.

Visitors can still see these remains by hiking on the MacLehose Trail, on the outskirts of Kowloon.

The Hong Kong Tourism Board has organized two tours on Hong Kong Island that take in the defensive remains from the Battle of Hong Kong.

The Wong Nai Chung Gap follows a valley that cuts through the hills of the island, and was considered a vital route to the city.

Today, the Gap is dotted with tennis courts and a cricket pitch. Then, Allied machine gun emplacements on the hillside fired down on the Japanese as they made their way toward the city.

It was on Dec. 19 that one fiercest fights of the conflict took place here.

A trail marked with information boards connects these defensive positions, which also includes ammunition magazines and the concrete footings of a former anti- aircraft battery. Guided tours to the Wong Nai Chung Gap operate on Sundays, from 10 to 1, and are free.

Riding the steep rail tram to the top of Victoria Peak to take in the view is an essential part of any visit. Not far from the Upper Peak tram terminus is the Pinewood Battery - one of the best preserved remains of the Hong Kong fortifications.

Built in 1903, this is Hong Kong's highest fortification and was intended to provide defence for the western sea approaches to Victoria Harbour. It was originally equipped with two six-inch naval guns, but it was converted to an anti-aircraft position by the British in the 1920s. Tours there are also guided and free, and operate on Thursdays.

I just visited Hong Kong a few days ago with my papa, mama and little brother. We left from Manila, Philippines around April 9th and went back on April 12th.

All I can say is: If you're staying in CWB, then you should visit Namco Wonderpark Plus.

280 Gloucester Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong SAR

Awesome place to play games :)

BTW:
It was also my first time to encounter a few things:

1) HK Airport Express Station baggage check-in.
It's amazing and seamlessly efficient though I beg to ask: How were they able to create a system that can transport baggage/luggage and belongings from IFC Mall (that's where the facility is) all the way up to HK Airport without any incidence of stuff getting lost travelling kilometers worth of distance

2) HK Lights and Sounds thingy
Holy hell!!! The sounds match with the buildings (especially Bank of China and HSBC buildings lighting up).

I definitely vow to visit Hong Kong (and Macau) at least once a year.


Hong Kong eases visa rules for Taiwan visitors
15 April 2009
Agence France Presse

Hong Kong on Wednesday further eased the rules for visitors entering from Taiwan, the latest sign of thawing relations with China.

Taiwanese visitors travelling to China through Hong Kong would previously not have been able to enter the city unless they had a separate entry or exit endorsement for the mainland.

But the endorsement requirement will be scrapped on April 27 and visitors will be allowed to stay in the southern Chinese city for up to seven days, a Hong Kong immigration department spokesman said.

The move comes during a trip by the mayor of Taichung city, Jason Hu, and a 90-person Taiwanese delegation to Hong Kong.

Donald Tsang, Hong Kong's chief executive, said after a meeting with Hu that the trip was a "breakthrough" in relations, according to local broadcaster RTHK.

During a meeting with Hu, Tsang expressed the hope that ties could be strengthened in a number of areas, including trade, finance, tourism and education, according to an RTHK report.

Hu said stronger ties with Hong Kong would hopefully improve relations between Taiwan and the mainland, the report said.

Trade and travel links between China and Taiwan have been severely restricted since the two sides split at the end of a civil war in 1949, and were dire during the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party's eight years in government.

Beijing sees Taiwan as part of its territory awaiting reunification, by force if necessary.

Relations between the island and China have improved dramatically since President Ma Ying-jeou of the China-friendly Kuomintang became president last May.

Hong Kong, although it has a separate legal and immigration system from the mainland, has often been reluctant to entertain top Taiwanese officials for fear of offending Beijing.

Earlier this year, Hong Kong extended the limit of stay for Taiwanese visitors from 14 days to 30 days for holders of certain visas.

No wonder I saw that counter over at HKIA Terminal 2 with something for blabla for Taiwanese visitors stuff.

Russia, Hong Kong cancel visa regime
24 April 2009
Agence France Presse

Russia and Hong Kong cancelled visa requirements for nationals of both countries, the Russian foreign ministry said late Friday.

"The accord will come into force as soon as necessary internal procedures are complete, and after that nationals of Russia and Hong Kong on a mutual basis will be able to make visa-free visits of up to 14 days," the ministry said in a statement.

Over 37,000 Russians visited Hong Kong last year alone, the ministry added.

Airline, hotels team up to lure Taiwan tourists
Hong Kong Standard
Thursday, April 30, 2009

A Taiwan airline has teamed up with Hong Kong hotels to offer return tickets, including one night's stay, for just HK$1,039 in an attempt to lure visitors from the island.

Hong Kong Tourism Board chairman James Tien Pei-chun said records show each Taiwan tourist usually spends HK$5,000 during their stay, but declined to project figures for the promotion.

Tien, who returned yesterday from a promotional visit to Taiwan, said he hopes islanders will opt for a short-haul trip to Hong Kong with their parents as a gift for Mother's Day, which falls on May 10 and is held in high regard by people in Taiwan.

Under the special May packages, the charge for one night's stay will be between HK$1,039 and HK$1,796 and between HK$1,259 and HK$1,924 for two nights.

Holidaymakers will have a choice of six hotels, including Disney's Hollywood Hotel, Langham Place Hotel, the Kowloon Shangri-La, and on board a Star Cruise liner when it is berthed in the harbor.

Tien said the board acted as a "facilitator" between the hotels and China Airlines.

But he said he is unhappy with the government for not doing enough to promote Hong Kong tourism.

"A lot of events and activities are organized by the community instead of the government," he said.

Board executive director Anthony Lau Chun-hon said the Hong Kong promotion will continue in Taiwan because the city has felt the impact of the direct commercial flights between the mainland and Taiwan since December.

He said the number of Taiwan tourists transiting Hong Kong dropped 11 percent in the first quarter of the year compared to last year and those staying overnight decreased by 3 percent.

While the board tries to make up for the loss of passengers from Taiwan, it is also trying to attract more of them to spend a few days in the city.

Tien said the promotion targets travelers who have never been to Hong Kong.

"Many Taiwan people feel Hong Kong does not welcome them," he said.

"But we believe they will start to change this perception with the recent political progress between the mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan, such as the recent visits by our senior officials to Taiwan."

Some 2.24 million Taiwan tourists visited Hong Kong last year, with 30 percent staying overnight and the remainder leaving the same day.

Hong Kong expects 4.24 mlm travelers during May Day holidays

HONG KONG, April 27 (Xinhua) -- About 4.24 million passengers will travel in and out of Hong Kong during the May Day holidays, up 16 percent from the same period of last year, the Immigration Department of Hong Kong said here Monday.

To cope with possible congestion, the department will deploy extra officers and join Police, Customs and the MTR Corporation to set up a joint command center at Lo Wu to oversee traffic and handle any incidents.

The department anticipated the peak period falls from April 30 to May 5 when 1.66 million passengers, an average of 276,000 daily, will pass through Lo Wu control point.

The busiest day at Lo Wu will be May 1 when 173,000 passengers arrive, while the number of departing passengers is expected to reach a peak of 170,000 on May 3.

Traffic at Lok Ma Chau control point will also be heavy with a forecast of 670,000 passengers, a daily average of 111,000. Both arrival and departure traffic will be very busy on May 1 at Lok Ma Chau.

Due to the swine flu outbreak in Mexico and the United States, Hong Kong has stepped up surveillance measures at boundary control points as more swine flu cases have been confirmed in North America.

Airlines arriving in Hong Kong had been asked to broadcast health advice on all direct flights coming from the affected places and passengers with respiratory symptoms are urged to approach Port Health officers at the Airport for follow-up investigations.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has upgraded the alert level to "serious" and demanded possible swine flu cases to be reported to authorities.

The swine flu, which is believed to be a new strain, has killed more than 100 people and sickened thousands across Mexico and claimed another 20 lives in the United States. Enditem

From news.gov.hk:
Visitor arrivals up 1.7% (http://news.gov.hk/en/category/businessandfinance/090506/html/090506en03007.htm)

HK$100m fund aims to back big events
26 March 2009
South China Morning Post

Organisers of events involving at least 10,000 people and which can claim to be international in some way may be able to seek financing from a new fund.

The proposed HK$100 million mega-events fund is aimed at drawing more visitors to the city.

The Tourism Commission, which plans to set up the fund, has set out several criteria which applicants must fulfil to receive funding, according to a paper submitted to the Legislative Council's economic development panel.

It suggested that an event of a considerable scale - with 10,000 participants, spectators and reporters - was one of the criteria, according to the document.

The paper said the event should contain an international element, include participants from overseas, and contains arts, culture or sports elements.

Another suggested requirement was that the event enhance the Hong Kong brand internationally, attract more visitors and generate media coverage.

The commission had proposed setting up the fund in the first half of this year to provide financial support directly to local and overseas non-profit organisations to host attractive mega events.

An assessment committee will be appointed to vet the applications individually, based on the benefits such as economic advantages and the feasibility of the proposal.

The fund will be administered by the commission, with the permanent secretary for commerce and economic development serving as the controlling officer.

The commission said it expected HK$100 million would be adequate for the fund to run for about three years.

Successful applicants would be required to use their own resources to meet part of the project cost, the paper said. They would also have to submit progress reports, final audited financial statements and evaluation reports on completion of the event.

Of the many large events the city hosts, the Hong Kong Sevens last year attracted more than 23,000 overseas spectators, while some 44,000 visitors came to the city to watch the Lunar New Year parade.

The Legislative Council will discuss the fund on Monday.

HK ready to tap into mainland tourist `goldrush'
Hong Kong Standard
Thursday, May 07, 2009

A vast untapped market of customers is ready and waiting for Hong Kong tour operators in the mainland - but they can't get at them because of official limitations on doing business.

One of Hong Kong's most successful tour operators, Jackie Wong See-sum, says the mainland market remains an untapped goldmine which could last generations.

Wong, the so-called "Father of Tourism" and managing director of Hong Thai Travel, also told The Standard that the golden era of tourism - when he laughed all the way to the bank every month - is long gone because of rising wages and costs, not to mention the financial crisis and flu scare.

"I made so much money back then, so I don't mind losing several million here and there now," Wong said.

The combined effects of the flu and financial crisis have seen Hong Thai's outbound tour bookings for May drop about 20 percent compared to a year ago.

The company continues to focus on outbound travel and the fast-growing, recession-resistant, cruise business.

Wong added that Hong Kong travel agents offer confidence to customers that no mainland company can match due to lack of a complaints system there.

Mainland travelers are joining group tours organized by Hong Kong operators, but the percentage is still small because they have to pay in Hong Kong and operators cannot advertise in China.

Hong Kong operators are only allowed to lure mainland customers for tours to Macau and Hong Kong, leaving a huge untapped market.

Wong's son, Jason Wong Chun-tat, 28, has now taken over the company. One of his first moves was to develop an online enrolment tool on the company's website, which is scheduled to be launched later this year.

Jason Wong said online enrolment may not become popular among Hong Kong travelers instantly because it is convenient for them to visit a Hong Thai branch, but the hidden purpose is to get ready for a further relaxation of travel arrangements for mainlanders.

Hong Thai has also spoken with cruise operators to prepare for the implementation of a policy to permit mainlanders to go to Taiwan from Hong Kong aboard cruises, but the island needs to increase its hosting capacity because it is close to being overloaded.

Other ideas generated by the younger Wong include e-promotions on Facebook and online forums, and developing special-interest tours.

Gov't Press Release:
LCQ18: Aberdeen Tourism Project (http://info.gov.hk/gia/general/200905/20/P200905200153.htm)

Shenzhen travel scheme put on hold
Hong Kong Standard
Thursday, May 07, 2009

Stating security reasons, the central government has put on hold an individual travel scheme for Shenzhen non-permanent residents to Hong Kong.

At the end of last year, Beijing announced that such non-Guangdong residents could apply in Shenzhen for permits to visit Hong Kong.

The move was seen as an attempt to help boost the flagging Hong Kong economy.

The whole thing was called off at the end of last month, meaning affected residents now have to return to their home provinces to apply for visit permits.

Shenzhen municipal government executive vice mayor Li Feng said yesterday the central government is worried the measures will put pressure on Hong Kong security.

"If a few million people visit Hong Kong at the same time, what will public order be like? If too many people shop in Hong Kong all of a sudden, will that be another kind of pressure?" Li asked.

He said Shenzhen authorities have prepared everything, including the extra manpower needed for the introduction of the relaxed measures.

There are 8.6 million people living in Shenzhen, 6.4 million of whom are non-permanent residents.

Earlier, the Hong Kong Tourism Board estimated 800,000 non-permanent Shenzhen residents would be potential visitors.

Legislative Council security panel deputy chairman James To Kun-sun said only a small number of visitors would commit crime or work illegally and that he could not understand the concern.

According to Shenzhen authorities, 106,000 people have applied since April 1, with 70,000 approved so far.

Hong Kong May visitor arrivals down 13.5 pct yr/yr

HONG KONG, June 10 (Reuters) - Visitor arrivals to Hong Kong in May fell by a provisional 13.5 percent from a year earlier to 2.03 million, a spokeswoman from the Hong Kong Tourism Board said on Wednesday.

This brings cumulative arrivals for the first five months of 2009 to a provisional 11.87 million, down 1.4 percent from the same period last year.

Visitor arrivals from mainland China in May fell by 9.9 percent from a year earlier to a provisional 1.15 million.

The tourism board said the drop in visitors from the mainland coincided with Hong Kong's announcement on May 1 that it had Asia's first confirmed case of the H1N1 flu virus.

The tourism board is due to release official May data later this month.

TABLE-Hong Kong July visitor arrivals down 15 pct yr/yr

July 29 (Reuters) - Visitor arrivals to Hong Kong fell 15 percent in June from a year earlier to around 1.83 million, data from the Hong Kong Tourism Board showed on Wednesday.

This brings cumulative arrivals for the first six months of 2009 to 13.7 million, down 3.4 percent from the same period last year.

"Hong Kong managed to achieve growth of 1.5 percent in overall arrivals in the first four months of this year. The positive trend was reversed in May and June, following the outbreak of human swine flu," Tourism Board Chairman James Tien said in a statement.

"In view of the current market sentiments, we expect the decline will likely continue into July and August," he added.

Visitor arrivals: (pct change yr/yr):

June May April March Feb
-15 -13.4 0.8 1.7 -8.1

Following is a summary of visitor arrivals by
Country/Territory in June.

No. of % Growth
Country/Territory Arrivals Year/Year
Mainland China 1,012,386 -11.6
South & Southeast Asia 218,421 -13.5
Europe, Africa & the Middle East 127,728 - 8.5
The Americas 118,063 -10.6
North Asia 113,809 -37.2
Taiwan 139,903 -23.9
Australia, New Zealand &
South Pacific 54,168 -11.5

- Hotel occupancy in June averaged 61 percent, down 20 percentage points from a year earlier.

- The average hotel room rate in June was HK$901 (US$116.3), down 20.2 percent from the same month a year ago. ($1=7.8 Hong Kong Dollar)

俄遊客訪港勁增77%本文重點
兩地互免簽奏效

【記者陳素貞報道】香港與俄羅斯上月起實施兩地互免簽證待遇後，俄羅斯訪港旅客量應聲大增，單七月份俄國訪港客量便較去年同期勁升七成七，而港人赴俄旅遊數量亦倍增。不過，目前香港每周只有四班直航俄羅斯客機，本地業界擔心「有客無位」將影響兩地旅客互訪，促請航空公司增加兩地直航班次配合。
兩地互免簽奏效
去年俄羅斯訪港旅客有三萬七千人次，較前年升一成三。兩地互免簽證上月起實施後，七月份單月有二千八百六十三人次訪港，較去年同期的一千六百廿人次，勁升七成七。香港旅行社協會主席胡兆英透露，近期已有不少俄國旅行社來港探路，籌劃團隊行程，預計半年後訪港俄客市場會更趨成熟，首批出境訪港的俄客會是較富裕的高消費客群。

胡續指，針對俄客熱愛到海南島三亞旅遊，業界正籌劃推出香港、三亞兩地遊團，行程長達十二日，兩地各逗留六日；而俄客先赴海南島再飛香港的安排，亦可解決現時港俄兩地直航班次有限的問題。

康泰旅行社總經理劉美詩指，港人免簽證到俄可省回八百元簽證費，亦切合港人即興外遊模式，加上今年暑假團費平了一成半，故暑假報團遊俄客量較去年同期增加一倍，客量表現較其他長線團突出。

劉預計俄羅斯免簽證產生的效應，將一如日本及歐洲神根公約免特區護照簽證，會吸引更多港人遊俄，旅行社會繼續推銷俄國團。

TABLE-Hong Kong July visitor arrivals down 12.2 pct yr/yr

Sept 1 (Reuters) - Visitor arrivals to Hong Kong fell 12.2 percent in July from a year earlier to around 2.38 million, data from the Hong Kong Tourism Board showed.

This brings cumulative arrivals for the first seven months of 2009 to 16.07 million, down 4.9 percent from the same period last year.

Visitor arrivals: (pct change yr/yr):

July June May April March
-12.2 -15.0 -13.4 0.8 1.7

Following is a summary of visitor arrivals by Country/Territory in July.
No. of % Growth
Country/Territory Arrivals Year/Year
Mainland China 1,432,740 -13.7
South & Southeast Asia 201,303 - 9.4
Europe, Africa & the Middle East 154,973 + 2.2
The Americas 135,945 + 1.2
North Asia 155,121 -15.9
Taiwan 190,293 -11.3
Australia, New Zealand &
South Pacific 56,398 - 8.6

- Hotel occupancy in July averaged 71 percent, down 18 percentage points from a year earlier.

- The average hotel room rate in July was HK$882 (US$113.1), down 19.4 percent from the same month a year ago. ($1=7.8 Hong Kong Dollar) (Reporting by Christina Lo)

會展獎勵旅遊逆市增長

受惠內地商務客大升


【明報專訊】上半年訪港旅客較去年同期減少3.4％，但同期來港參加會展及獎勵旅遊（MICE）的旅客卻有1.9％輕微增長，主要是內地商務客大升逾兩成，彌補其他市場的下跌。旅遊發展局指出，下半年預計有150項大型會議及展覽在港舉行。


據旅發局數字，今年首6個月來港參與會展及獎勵旅遊的旅客人次約51萬，較2008年同期升1.9％，除內地市場升25.3％外，其他市場分別下跌1.9％至14.7％。旅發局會議展覽及郵輪業務總經理黃鳳嫺解釋，內地受金融海嘯影響較小，香港亦是最接近中國大陸的國際展銷平台，故這個市場升幅較大，而且本港舉辦的會議展覽屬「龍頭級」，海外參展商若要減預算，亦會先放棄二三線的項目。


她指出，08年上半年，訪港會展旅客人次基數偏低，因為當時內地調整簽證政策，以及受內地年初雪災、地震和奧運影響所致，至去年第四季，因為會展旅遊市場曾出現大量積壓的需求，才會令到當時的業務比較顯著的升幅。


下半年150大型會展在港舉行


本港今年上半年至少舉辦了38項展覽及111項大型會議，當中不少錄得增長，包括5月舉行的「第13屆亞洲國際食品及飲料、酒店、餐廳及餐飲設備，供應及服務展覽會」，租用面積及人流分別升28％和11％；另一「亞洲殯儀博覽2009」業務亦增加約三成，不少展覽會及大型會議已表明來年將再在港舉辦，下半年約有50項展覽及100項大型會議在港舉行。黃鳳嫺承認，小型會議及獎勵旅遊上半年較受影響，但她說，第四季是獎勵旅遊的旺季，現正全力向東南亞市場宣傳。


旅發局推MICE旅客新優惠


旅發局去年11月成立香港會議及展覽拓展部，近日已跟旅遊業界向MICE旅客推出新一輪優惠，如國泰、港龍航空便提供額外5至20％折扣，14間酒店亦提供自助餐買一送一優惠等。黃鳳嫺說，為配合香港美酒佳餚年，凡來港的商務群逾100人及連續在港逗留兩晚，便會向他們送出試酒證等。她指出，由於市場仍存在變數，現階段難估計全年會展及獎勵旅遊的訪客數字。

most mainlanders I chat to think HK isn't that tourist friendly. Narrow pavements, choking roadside pollution and expensive.

Unless the city become more walkable I fear the influx of mainlanders may start to dwindle

Well, I think the same comment can apply to London, New York, and even Tokyo.

We're not going to plan our cities for 1 industry. What the tourists put up with, the locals have to do the same.

Scheme for Shenzhen visitors still on hold
17 September 2009
South China Morning Post

The planned policy change that would allow non-permanent Shenzhen residents to make multiple visits to Hong Kong may have to be delayed again.

The Tourism Board said yesterday mainland authorities might not be ready to launch the scheme next month.

"The [Shenzhen] Public Security Bureau and different mainland cities are still working on the details of the scheme," board chairman James Tien Pei-chun said. "Therefore it may not commence from October 1."

Announced by Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen in March, the scheme would allow about seven million migrant workers in Shenzhen to get individual visitor permits there, without having to return to their home provinces to apply.

The scheme was expected to start on May 1 but was put on hold. A Shenzhen official said the suspension was aimed at maintaining Hong Kong's stability and low crime rate.

Hong Kong officials later said they expected the relaxation could start from October 1, the first day of the eight-day National Day and MidAutumn Festival holiday.

Tien said the non-permanent residents in Shenzhen were from many different cities, but some of the cities were not ready for the new rules.

"The Shenzhen Public Security Bureau ... wants to start the scheme when all of the non-permanent Shenzhen residents are eligible to come," he said. "We understand that some details are not ready yet."

He said he did not know when the scheme would be launched.

Tien said visitor arrivals to Hong Kong recorded growth of nearly 6 per cent last month, compared with August last year. Both long-haul visitors and mainland travellers rose by 9 per cent last month over the same period last year. The number had also grown by about 4 per cent in the first 10 days of this month.

"But if you trace back, we had a lower base because the Olympic Games were hosted in August last year and many visitors could not come because of visa restrictions," Tien said.

The increase came after three months of shrinkage, as the total number of visitors fell year on year by 12 per cent in July, 15 per cent in June and 13 per cent in May mainly because of the swine flu outbreak.

To attract more visitors during the National Day holiday, the Tourism Board will join with mainland travel agents and airlines to arrange group tours taking mainlanders to both Taiwan and Hong Kong.

The tours would be the first after the latest Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement was signed in May. The agreement allowed mainland visitors on group tours to Taiwan to stop in Hong Kong for up to a week on the way there and on the way back.

Golden Week Mainland visitors up 15.8%




There were 590,882 Mainland visitor arrivals during the eight-day National Day Golden Week holiday period, up 15.8% on the same period last year, the Tourism Board says.



Of the 590,882 visitors, 69% arrived under the Individual Visit Scheme, up 17.1%. Among them 18.5% were Shenzhen permanent residents with multiple entry visa endorsement, meaning a daily average of 9,500 arrivals, which is higher than normal days. Visitors joining group tours to Hong Kong also rose 36.1% to 42,906.



Board chairman James Tien attributed the positive gain mainly to the slight economic improvement, attractive promotional travel packages rolled out during the period and an extended Golden Week this year which coincided with the Mid-Autumn Festival.



"While remarkable growth was recorded for Mainland arrivals during the Golden Week period, market conditions remain volatile," he said, adding the board will boost promotion in the coming months.



It has collaborated with the travel trade to roll out Halloween-themed packages in Shanghai and southern China to appeal to younger travellers, and with airlines to promote multi-destination itineraries featuring Hong Kong and Taiwan in various Mainland cities.

Little room for expansion in HK, luxury hotel chains lament
19 October 2009
South China Morning Post

A lack of suitable sites and the relatively high cost of land are frustrating efforts by some of the biggest names in the luxury hotel business to tap the lucrative business travel market in Hong Kong.

"We obviously want to get into Hong Kong island, but unfortunately it has a limited land supply," said Stephen Ho, senior vice-president of acquisitions and development for Asia Pacific at Starwood Hotels and Resorts.

"Hopefully, with the reclamation there, we could bring the Westin and St Regis brands to Hong Kong.

"The Murray Building could be something that we could use for The Luxury Collection brand. I think there are opportunities for a heritage hotel."

Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen said in his policy address last week that the Murray Building in Garden Road would be converted into a hotel through open tender as part of the government's efforts to preserve the district's heritage.

Starwood manages the Sheraton Hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui, Le Meridien Cyberport and the 393-room W Hotel above the Airport Express Kowloon station.

Peter Henley, president and chief executive of Amari Hotels and Resorts, said the company also wanted to be in Hong Kong but it was a difficult market to enter and hard to get "the right property at the right location". Amari, Thailand's largest domestic hotel management company with 11 properties, is planning 40 more in Hong Kong and the region by 2018.

"Obviously developers have the land price [issue] to deal with," Henley said. "That's a very fundamental factor so it's a highly competitive environment, certainly for hotel-operating companies like ours."

The government recognises the need to further support hotel owners and operators, designating nine hotel-only sites for sale on its land application list under a pilot scheme last year.

None of the sites garnered high-enough bids. There are two plots at Kowloon Bay, two at North Point and one each in Kwun Tong, Tin Shui Wai, Sai Kung, Hung Hom and Wan Chai, near the Queen Elizabeth Stadium. The Wan Chai site is the smallest, at 717 square metres.

Like many markets, Hong Kong is focusing on attracting more business travellers, who tend to stay longer and spend more than leisure visitors and tour groups.

But the Central business district suffers from a dearth of luxury hotel rooms, as a lack of prime sites and high commercial rents see developers turning their backs on hotels in favour of lucrative office towers.

The business district lost 517 rooms when the Furama Hotel closed in December 2001 after 28 years to make way for AIG Tower. In May 1995, tycoon Li Ka-shing's Hutchison Whampoa eliminated 750 rooms when it replaced the Hilton with the Cheung Kong Center office tower. A further 216 rooms were lost when the Ritz-Carlton closed last year. The site is being redeveloped into an office building, while the Ritz-Carlton will reopen across the harbour near W Hotel next year.

The business district now has about 1,000 luxury hotel rooms, including the refurbished 501-room Mandarin Oriental, down from the original 541 rooms, the 113-room Landmark Mandarin Oriental and the 399-room Four Seasons, which opened in September 2005.

Hong Kong now has 26 luxury hotels offering 14,700 rooms. There are about 60,000 hotel rooms overall.

According to Tourism Board data, the number of confirmed hotel projects as of June 30 indicates the total number of rooms will increase by more than 11,000, to 70,000, by the end of 2012. Of these 11,000 rooms, only 295 will be in Central. A total of 5,687 rooms are planned for Hong Kong Island, while the rest will be in Kowloon, the New Territories and outlying islands.

"It isn't easy. Clearly, it's a developed market," InterContinental Hotels Group chief financial officer and head of commercial development Richard Solomons said.

"We are very careful about what we do and where we do it. Sometimes that takes time."

Still, InterContinental is planning to significantly increase its presence in Hong Kong in the next few years by adding five hotels, or more than 1,000 rooms, to the 2,000 already under its management. The additional rooms will be in Hotel Indigo in Wan Chai, Crowne Plaza hotels in Causeway Bay and Kowloon, and Holiday Inn Express hotels on both sides of the harbour.

The Holiday Inn brand is undergoing a US$1-billion global revamp that is expected to be completed by the end of next year.

Tsim Sha Tsui's Holiday Inn Golden Mile completed its rebranding on Friday.

Visa-free access for HKSAR passport holders to Guam effective November 28
Friday, October 30, 2009
Government Press Release

The Immigration Department today (October 30) announced that Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) passport holders may visit Guam visa-free for a stay of up to 45 days with effect from November 28. HKSAR passport holders are required to present their valid Hong Kong Permanent Identity Cards upon arriving in Guam.

The Consulate General of the United States in Hong Kong recently informed the Immigration Department of the decision and arrangement.

"We welcome the decision of the U.S. Government," a Hong Kong Government spokesman said. "The arrangement offers greater convenience for HKSAR passport holders and helps promote trade, business and tourism links between Hong Kong and Guam."

Including Guam, 140 countries/territories have granted visa-free access or visa-on-arrival to HKSAR passport holders.

官僚累事
港府欠遠見學者感丟臉


2009年11月02日


新加坡多個世界級景點明年落成，究竟香港正在做甚麼？本港旅遊事務署回覆稱，正致力發展郵輪及綠色旅遊。理工大學酒店及旅遊業管理學院副教授葉占雄批評，港府官僚作風日盛，缺乏遠見，老是舊調重彈。縱然港府 1995年已提出興建郵輪碼頭，卻被發展商「拖後腳」左右意向，討論選址也花了十多年，「拖了 14年還未興建，簡直是個笑話。」


擺姿態光說不做
旅遊事務署發言人表示，香港有維港美景、傳統文化古蹟，地質公園及濕地公園等吸引不同客源，盛事基金的六項大型盛事及大坑舞火龍等，可豐富旅客體驗。海洋公園擴建、新郵輪碼頭及迪士尼樂園擴建依次在 2012至 14年完成。
葉占雄指出，上述項目難以吸引旅客再度光臨，郵輪碼頭最終選在啟德興建，但至今配套仍然欠奉。港府日後必須讓持份者及業界參與旅遊規劃，及早諮詢，周詳考慮新景點及所有配套才出台，「政府總是在最後階段才諮詢，不肯接納不同聲音，只強調『這是對大家最好的方案』。最令人擔憂的是，政府只懂責怪傳媒，永不從錯誤中學習。」改善空氣質素也是當務之急，「政府只是擺姿態，光說不做。對外宣傳維港有多美，遊客只看見一片灰濛。作為香港人，我感到很丟臉。」
本報記者

A spectacular gathering of wine, food, music and fun. This is a festive, upscale event showcasing wines from national and international wineries paired with food from local restaurants and featuring culinary personalities.

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深圳遊港准一年簽四行

740萬非粵籍居民受惠


【明報專訊】深圳昨向香港旅遊業贈送「聖誕禮物」，兩地政府昨召開合作會議後公布，由本月15日起，非廣東籍深圳常住居民可以在深圳每3個月1次簽注赴港個人遊，一年最多可簽4次，令居於740萬的非廣東籍深圳居民受惠。有旅遊界人士形容措施對本港旅遊業有正面作用。至於討論多時的「深圳通」和本港八達通於兩地互通，尚待提升軟件水平。


是次會議共簽署了7份協議，包括3間深圳學校試辦港人子弟合作協議、文化及體育、水生動物疫病檢測、創新科技、旅遊及醫院合作等（見表）。


有別於220萬深圳戶籍居民今年4月起「一簽多行」的來港個人遊簽注，「一年簽四行」是讓740萬長居深圳、但非廣東籍的居民，可以不用返家鄉便可在深圳直接辦理個人遊。有份主持會議的政務司長唐英年稱，新安排有利本港旅遊、零售及餐飲等相關行業。深圳市代市長王榮稱，單是「一簽多行」落實後，便有45萬人申請。


酒店業主聯會執行總幹事李漢城稱，非戶籍居民大多是到深圳的「打工仔」，現在可以讓他們有空時到香港旅遊，對香港零售和旅遊是好事，而這批客源可在今年聖誕和新年期間出現，刺激市道。


深圳通八達通研互通


至於深圳前海發展，唐英年透露會議上決定「前海地區將由深圳市政府主導和負責開發管理，港府將為前海的發展規劃和相關政策的探討和制定提供意見」。雙方並成立「前海合作聯合專責小組」，負責前海的合作建設，政制及內地事務局長林瑞麟及深圳市常務副市長會擔任組長。王榮預料今年底至明年初，會為前海發展區成立管理機構和法人機構，開展工作。


深圳通和八達通在兩地互通方面，王榮指出，在安全認證、卡片金融安排已具備引進條件，但相關軟件提升需進一步努力。關於港深簽署的「港大深圳教學醫院合作安排」，港大昨發新聞稿稱，港大與深圳合作籌備濱海醫院，作為教學及公眾醫院，該醫院落成後可將提供2000張病，港大可利用此醫院的衛生資源和病源，拓展其科技領域和臨實習機會。


據悉，香港日常碰到「奇難雜症」機會較少，故本港可透過此醫院，研究罕見病例。

Hong Kong October Tourist Arrivals Around 2.8 Million; Up 9%
26 November 2009

HONG KONG - (Dow Jones) - The number of visitors to Hong Kong in October totaled around 2.8 million, up 9% from a year earlier because of an increase in the number of tourists from mainland China, especially during the week-long National Day holiday that started Oct. 1, the Hong Kong Tourism Board said Thursday.

However, the number of visitors to Hong Kong in the 10 months ended Oct. 31 fell 1.6% from a year earlier to 23.9 million because of the economic downturn, the tourism board said in a statement.

In October, there were around 1.7 million tourists from mainland China, up 22.8% from a year earlier, it said.

港旅客量反勝澳門

明年料增長2％至3％


【明報專訊】澳門去年的旅客數字一度超越香港，但隨澳門修訂計算方法，加上受流感、簽證等影響，今年至10月訪港旅客已較訪澳門旅客多出近兩成，預料11月和12月訪港旅客只會微跌，故整年旅客數字料可多於澳門，扳回一局。旅遊業界相信，明年客量可回復增長2％至3％。


1至10月客量多澳門兩成


以今年1至10月客量比較，澳門有1918萬人次，較去年同期跌7.1％，其中內地客亦跌6.8％；香港同期訪客數字有2392萬人次，比澳門多出近兩成。


雖然澳門近月旅客量回升，但香港同樣後勁凌厲，至11月訪客量跌幅只有1％，12月初進一步收窄至0.8％，香港旅發局希望最後的20多天可追平去年的2950萬人次。


香港客量除高於澳門，表現亦較日本、新加坡等地佳，日本1至10月客量較去年同期跌逾兩成，新加坡1至9月客量亦較去年同期跌7.6％；鄰近地區以台灣表現最好，1至10月錄得逾一成增長，主要是內地旅客急增所帶動。


旅遊業議會主席胡兆英預計，明年訪港客量應有2％至3％升幅，「雖然幅度不高，但基數不小」。他指出，澳門今年客量下跌除了是受新型流感影響，亦因為內地收緊到澳門的簽證，直至近月才放寬，由兩月一簽變回一月一簽，而其他亞洲地區亦受流感影響。


旅業籲推一程兩地遊


他指出，香港明年應繼續與澳門合作推一程兩地遊，特別是新加坡環球影城明年便會落成，香港可利用澳門的廉航網絡互補，吸引更多東南亞旅客來港。根據旅發局統計，澳門去年的150萬航空旅客中，三分之一是東南亞旅客，當中七成到澳門後會轉到香港旅遊，故香港亦能受惠。


國際賽事吸引馬迷來港


另一方面，沙田馬場周日會舉行第23屆國泰航空香港國際賽事，31匹海外名駒將與本港20匹馬爭奪6200萬元獎金。是次來港參賽的馬匹不少都大有來頭，包括法國打冠軍、凱旋門大賽三甲等良駒。


馬會馬匹拍賣會及發展部主管白理雅表示，香港國際賽事已成為知名品牌，會吸引不少馬迷專程來港觀賽，目前亦已有270名傳媒報名來港採訪，另外每匹參賽馬至少會拉動10人來港，如馬主、騎師、馬伕等，他們都屬高消費群，一般會在港逗留6天，部分更長達兩星期，加上正值本港舉行聖誕減價，以香港旅發局數字計算，去年每名過夜旅客平均在港消費5439元，故賽事可為香港帶來310多萬元以上收入。此外，海外傳媒的大篇幅報道，亦可為香港帶來巨大宣傳價值。

November visitor arrivals up 7.6%





Visitor arrivals to Hong Kong saw a year-on-year rise of 7.6% in November to 2,606,085, the Tourism Board says.



The Mainland market had the largest increase of 13.3% because consumption visits by Shenzhen permanent residents rose as they could apply for multiple entry endorsement under Individual Visit Scheme from last April.



Visitors from South and Southeast Asia rose 5.2%, in which India recorded year-on-year growth of 28.5% due to the rise in flight capacity since September.



Emerging markets showed robust growth, including Russia (37.8%) and the Middle East (42.4%).




All long-haul regions recorded positive gains. Europe, Africa and the Middle East rose 4.4% over last year, while the Americas and Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific increased 2.4% and 3.8%.



Cumulative arrivals for January to November were down 0.7% on the same period in 2008. The Mainland was the only region showing positive growth of 5.7%.



About 58.1% of visitors stayed in the city at least one night, 0.9 of a percentage point lower than in the same month last year. Hotel occupancy across all hotel categories was 89%, up one percentage point.



Yau Ma Tei and Mong Kok hotels recorded the highest occupancy rate of 94%. The average achieved hotel room rate was $1,069, down 20%.

Go To Top

Hainan gives HK a run for its money
The Standard
Thursday, January 07, 2010

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Hainan is poised to become a top international tourism destination by 2020, complete with gaming options that may include horse racing.

That, together with the promise of duty-free shopping for mainlanders, could affect Hong Kong in the long term, though provincial leaders played down this aspect at a press conference in Beijing yesterday.

A mainland paper, the Information Times, reported Hainan may be developed as a trial base for gambling options such as casinos and horse racing.

Gambling on horses in the mainland was outlawed in 1949. And a modern racecourse in Guangzhou was closed in 2001 after local newspapers exposed the gambling activities taking place there.

Another racecourse was opened in Wuhan in 2007 but gaming is restricted to picking two winners from five races. Winners get scratch coupons offering prizes from a few yuan to 4,000 yuan (HK$4,540).

Hainan's Communist Party chief Wei Liucheng said the process of turning the island into a tropical holiday paradise will begin this year. And he promised that people will be greatly impressed with the changes in just 10 years.

Governor Luo Baoming said the island has much to learn from Hong Kong and that he does not think the tax- free shopping will affect the SAR.

He said gambling options, including a sports lottery, will be developed on an experimental basis, adding the island may have legal boundaries that are less strict than the rest of the mainland.

However, Luo insists Hainan will not overstep the law. "If entertainment elements are not introduced, something will be missing in Hainan's promoting itself as an international tourist destination," Wang Yongsheng, from the Regional Tourism Development of the Regional Science Association of China told China Securities Journal.

Wang said there are regional precedents for the trial. "Gambling is forbidden in South Korea, but overseas passport holders can gamble at Walker Hill in Seoul; this fits the country's policies and also meets the entertainment needs of overseas visitors," he said.

But Hong Kong may yet have cause for worry. Several travel agencies in Chongqing said they will organize shopping trips to Hainan once the policy, proposed by the State Council, is approved.

"It'll be much more convenient to purchase luxury goods in Hainan than Hong Kong, as the return flight tickets and price of local hotels are cheaper, and tourists don't need to apply for an exit permit in advance or choose international flights," China Travel Service Group general manager Liao Wei told Chongqing Business News.

Peking University urban planning professor Dong Liming said the island is currently underdeveloped and most of the tourists are domestic travelers. "A gambling industry and tax-free service will contribute to the economic growth of the island," he told Global Times.

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City gears up for 31m tourist influx
The Standard
Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Tourist arrivals could grow 5 percent to 31 million this year - helping to make up for a lackluster 2009 blighted by the financial crisis.

A Tourism Board paper presented to the Legislative Council said that last year the number of tourists recorded a tiny 0.3 percent increase to about 29 million.

The slight increase was driven by visitors from the mainland whose numbers jumped 6.5 percent.

Visitors from other short- and long- haul markets dropped 8 percent in comparison with 2008.

The board's executive director Anthony Lau Chun-hon said 2009 was a "difficult year" with the swine flu pandemic and economic turmoil leading to a sharp drop in visitor arrivals in the second quarter.

He predicted the figure will increase to 31 million this year on the back of strong growth in visitors from the mainland and emerging markets.

"The prediction is based on economists' projections," he said.

"If there is any economic problem, such as an interest rate drop or a rise in unemployment, it will affect the willingness to travel and we will reassess the situation."

Of the 31 million visitors predicted for this year, 19 million will come from the mainland.

Lau said tourist arrivals from Taiwan and Japan will be low as Japan's economy is weak and Taiwan now had direct cross-strait links with the mainland.

He said the board will concentrate on promoting the city in emerging markets including India, Russia and South Korea.

It proposes spending HK$367 million on these new markets.

Asked whether the board would close down its overseas offices to cut costs given its reserve of just HK$19 million, Lau said these offices are worthwhile to promote Hong Kong in areas other than the mainland.

"We must balance the portfolio of tourists and cannot fully rely on mainland visitors," he said.

He added that Singapore's new tourism infrastructure will open soon, but insisted it will not have a big effect on Hong Kong's tourism industry.

"To face keener competition from Singapore, we will strengthen promotion in the Southeast Asian markets as we think they are the main markets attracted to Singapore," he said.

The board is also preparing to hold various events.

These include the international dragon boat championship - which will be one of the year's highlights - in keeping with this year's main theme of "Festive Hong Kong 2010."

TABLE-Hong Kong Dec visitor arrivals up 10 pct yr/yr
1 February 2010

Feb 1 (Reuters) - Visitor arrivals to Hong Kong rose 10 percent from a year earlier in December to 3.06 million, data from the Hong Kong Tourism Board showed.

Tthe Tourism Board confirmed that visitor arrivals for the whole of 2009 totalled 29.59 million, up just 0.3 percent from 2008. About 59 percent, or 17.9 million, came from mainland China, up 6.5 percent from 2008.

Visitor arrivals: (pct change yr/yr):

Dec Nov Oct Sept Aug July
10.0 7.6 9.0 2.5 5.8 -12.2

Following is a summary of visitor arrivals by Country/Territory in December.

No. of % Growth
Country/Territory Arrivals Year/Year
Mainland China 1,848,832 +14.1
South & Southeast Asia 375,615 + 4.7
Europe, Africa & the Middle East 159,109 -0.5
The Americas 133,428 +2.5
North Asia 187,354 -1.7
Taiwan 187,925 +6.0
Australia, New Zealand & 69,066 +4.5
South Pacific
Macau 101,322 +26.7

- Hotel occupancy in December averaged 90 percent, unchanged from the same period a year earlier.

- The average hotel room rate in December was HK$1,090 (US$139.7), down 5.3 percent from the same month a year earlier.

- The average hotel room rate in 2009 as a whole was HK$1,023, down 16.3 percent from 2008. ($1=7.8 Hong Kong Dollar)

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旅局「飛虎隊」 學土話款待貴賓


【明報專訊】香港每年有逾3000萬遊客訪港，當中不少屬元首貴賓。旅遊發展局去年底成立一個新小組，成員每次的任務儼如「飛虎隊」一樣，在貴賓抵達前兩周才得悉，然後急急準備迎賓，但每次任務都不容有失。大使在推介香港之餘，既要學對方的禮儀習俗，有時更要學異國土話，務求令這些國王、總統感到賓至如歸。


了解對方習俗 預定旅遊路線


旅發局旅客資訊及服務部去年底成立了一支服務大使小組（簡稱SAT），要成為小組成員須經過內部選拔。旅客服務高級主任朱宏英（Alice）是現時3名成員之一。Alice本身是中日混血兒，故能操流利廣東話、國語、英語和日語。她以往在旅客諮詢中心解答旅客問題，現時偶爾要接待貴賓，便要額外做功課。


接待非洲國王 如《安娜與國王》


Alice舉例說，去年底曾接待來自非洲小國萊索托的國王，事前便要上網找資料，如小國地理位置等，又要為他計劃旅遊路線和聯絡景點作特別安排。即使一切安排妥當，見面當日也難免緊張。Alice說，生平第一次稱呼對方為Your Majesty（國王陛下），感受到對方的王者派頭，笑言恍如置身周潤發主演的《安娜與國王》那樣。由於萊索托曾為英國殖民地，Alice能以英語講解，但最終憑一句非洲土話贏得訪問團的掌聲──原來Alice在YouTube看到國王早前訪問加拿大時的演講片段，國王最後說了一句人生的座右銘。她於是反覆學習發音、語氣，在參觀完結時向國王說一遍，令他們大感意外及欣賞。


獲捷克總統贈胸口針


除了國王，Alice還接待過另一「Mr President」──捷克總統。她說，找資料時才知道原來捷克人愛喝果汁，接待時與他們談起，對方即時請她試試這些特產，總統最後更送她一個胸口針留念。


Alice說，貴賓與一般旅客最大分別，是他們的問題較深入，對香港各區人口分佈、公屋等問題都感興趣，「基本上他們看到什麼都會問，所以要做足準備」。她指出，貴賓都很友善，景點負責人都會熱情招待，令貴賓逗留時間較預期長，要學懂如何掌握時間，以免影響行程。

首兩月訪港客大升18%創新高


【明報專訊】旅遊發展局公布，今年首兩個月訪港旅客再創新高，由1月至上月25日，已錄得550萬人次訪港，按年升近兩成。該局預測，今年訪客會升5.2％，達3100萬人次，並相信上海舉行世博，香港亦會受惠。


大升18% 達550萬人次


旅發局主席田北俊說，今年1月至2月25日止，共有550萬人次旅客訪港，比去年同期上升18％。他預測今年全年會有3100萬人次旅客到港，較2009年增加5.2％，並預計今年旅客的人均消費將達5800元，較去年升2.5％；全年旅遊收益會有1750億元，按年升6.9％。


田北俊表示，歐美經濟仍有隱憂，或會影響旅客到港數字。不過他對今年的旅客數字感樂觀，又指旅發局會繼續加強對外宣傳，預算全球宣傳推廣費達5億元。他指出，本港最大客源市場內地，預計今年有5100萬人外遊，該局今年花在內地的宣傳預算為6200萬元，較09年的5500萬元多。


加強內地宣傳 吸世博遊客


他解釋，由於去年該局額外花多了逾1000萬元在內地宣傳本港的控疫措施，故今年預算投入在內地的資源，實際較去年增加。他又說，上海5月起舉行為期半年的世界博覽會，估計本港應可受惠，故屆時會加強在上海宣傳，希望吸引旅客趁機停留香港。


另外，旅遊事務專員容偉雄說，政府會繼續協助推廣一程多站式旅遊，年底前，來往香港及俄羅斯的新航線會投入服務，相信有助本港在這個新興市場推廣。政府亦會協調海洋公園及迪士尼樂園擴建，希望吸引更多遊客。

一月訪港旅客升5.9％



香港旅遊發展局今天（3月2日）公布，1月訪港旅客按年升5.9％，至2,960,319人次。月內北亞旅客顯著升29.1％，主要是由於韓圜升值和外遊市場回升，令南韓旅客人次急增40.5％所致。



該月中國大陸的訪港旅客按年升0.8％，至1,907,827人次；主因是去年農曆新年假期在1月份，令去年的基數較高。同期台灣旅客微升0.2％，至182,068人次。



承接去年第4季的升勢，1月份印度旅客增長47.3％、俄羅斯旅客升141.9％、中東旅客也升41.8％。



月內在港逗留1晚或以上的「過夜旅客」約佔56.3％，按年跌1.1個百分點。



所有類別酒店的平均入住率為87％，按年升8個百分點。油麻地和旺角的酒店入住率最高，平均達92％。所有類別酒店實際平均房租為1,096元，按年下調1.9％。


January visitor arrivals up 5.9%




Hong Kong saw a 5.9% year-on-year rise in visitors in January to 2.96 million, with the short- and long-haul markets recording 18% and 18.7% growth, the Tourism Board says.



With the global economy stabilising and consumer travel sentiment gradually recovering, North Asia saw a 29.1% gain driven by the 40.5% arrival upsurge from South Korea.



Mainland visitors saw a milder increase, at 0.8%, given the relatively higher base of arrivals as a result of the Lunar New Year holiday being in January last year. Taiwan arrivals grew 0.2%.



Emerging markets, including India (47.3%), Russia (141.9%) and the Middle East (41.8%), continued their upward trend since the last quarter of 2009, with arrivals substantially boosted by expanded flight capacity, visa-free arrangements and the increased propensity to travel.



About 56.3% of all visitors stayed in the city at least one night, 1.1 percentage points lower than the same month last year. Occupancy across all hotel categories was 87%, up eight percentage points. The average achieved hotel room rate was $1,096, down 1.9%.

Young targeted for boost to HK tourism
3 March 2010
SCMP

The Hong Kong Tourism Board is banking on big-spending young leisure travellers to help boost the number of visitors from Taiwan and South Korea, which were among the worst performing inbound tourism markets for Hong Kong last year.

Optimistic that the worst of the global downturn is over, the board hopes to rebuild the South Korean market as the fifth biggest source of visitors. It bumped up its marketing budget for South Korea by 64 per cent to HK$10.5 million and is targeting a 16 to 18 per cent rise in the number of South Korean visitors this year. A board director, Scott Kwon, says 62 per cent of South Koreans visiting the city are young office workers and couples and 17 per cent are families.

The number of South Korean arrivals plunged almost one-third to 618,694 last year from 904,320 in 2008. The disproportionately large drop was partly due to a weaker Korean won, which made it cheaper to shop at home but more expensive to travel overseas. In the first eight weeks of this year, 149,236 South Koreans travelled to Hong Kong, an increase of 34 per cent year on year.

Arrivals from Taiwan, second only to the mainland, did not fare much better last year. With the launch of regular direct flights to some mainland cities in July 2008, the number of visitors to Hong Kong from Taiwan was down 10 per cent last year from 2008's arrivals, to just over 2 million. The flights mean visitors can bypass Hong Kong on their way to some mainland cities and back.

Terruce Wang, who oversees the Taiwan market, said the board aimed to build on growth in visitors from the second-tier cities of Taichung and Kaohsiung, which accounted for 18 per cent of Taiwan arrivals last year; almost two-thirds came from Taipei. He said Taichung was a wealthy city, and Kaohsiung residents tended to travel with their families.

Visitor Arrival Statistics and Hotel Occupancy Report


http://partnernet.hktb.com/pnweb/primg/Tourism%20Stat%2001%202010.pdf

Tokyo blooger, Danny Choo visits Hong Kong

http://www.dannychoo.com/post/en/25514/Hong+Kong+Day+1.html

Great pictures... totally makes me feel nostalgic.

Exploring Hong Kong's Nature

N9AsRTgynnU

Tokyo blooger, Danny Choo visits Hong Kong

http://www.dannychoo.com/post/en/25514/Hong+Kong+Day+1.html

Great pictures... totally makes me feel nostalgic.


Part 2:

http://www.dannychoo.com/post/en/25521/Hong+Kong+Day+2.html

Hong Kong Feb visitor arrivals up 32.5 pct on yr

April 1 (Reuters) - Visitor arrivals to Hong Kong rose 32.5 percent from a year earlier in February to 2.87 million, data from the Hong Kong Tourism Board showed on Thursday.

The key reason for the strong growth was a surge of Mainland arrivals during the Lunar New Year golden week, which fell in February this year but January last year, the tourism board said in a statement.

Visitor arrivals: (pct change yr/yr):

Feb Jan Dec Nov Oct Sept
32.5 5.9 10.0 7.6 9.0 2.5


Following is a summary of visitor arrivals by
Country/Territory in February.
No. of % Growth
Country/Territory Arrivals Year/Year
Mainland China 2,009,922 +49.4
South & Southeast Asia 176,569 - 0.1
Europe, Africa & The Middle East 133,741 - 2.1
The Americas 98,684 - 2.3
North Asia 158,979 - 2.6
Taiwan 188,561 +28.1
Australia, New Zealand & 42,137 - 0.8
South Pacific

- Hotel occupancy in February averaged 79 percent, up three percentage points from a year earlier.

- The average hotel room rate in February was HK$1,038 ($133), up 2.4 percent from the same month a year earlier. ($1=7.8 Hong Kong Dollar)

7月尖東龍舟賽料吸4萬客


【明報專訊】旅發局與香港龍舟協會於7月底將舉行一連3天的「香港龍舟嘉年華」，屆時尖東將變身嘉年華會，除將在對開海面舉行多場國際賽事外，尖東百周年紀念公園亦會變啤酒樂園，以美食、音樂等吵熱氣氛，預計能吸引4萬人次到訪。


香港龍舟嘉年華將在7月23至25日上午9時至下午6時在尖東海旁一帶舉行，目前已有50支本地及24支國際隊伍報名參加，包括美國、澳洲及俄羅斯等。


尖東公園變身啤酒樂園

旅發局會為賽事加添嘉年華元素，當中包括計劃與啤酒商合作在尖東百周年紀念公園變身成啤酒樂園，舉辦競飲大賽之餘，亦會有美食、音樂表演。該局計劃設立可容納1500至1800個收費觀眾席，但強調市民及遊客可同時在海旁免費觀看比賽並參加各樣活動，現正與警方商討封路安排，最理想是爭取把梳士巴利道於周末封作行人區，退而求其次亦希望封閉麼地道。


旅發局主席田北俊期望，活動能帶動尖東人流，為區內零售及餐飲業帶來商機，並鼓勵商戶配合龍舟嘉年華舉辦特色活動，增加派對氣氛。整個活動料斥資1500萬元，旅發局撥款其中250萬元，其餘會尋求贊助，目前大約找到一半款項。


為增加賽事吸引力，比賽會增設「最佳服飾獎」，鼓勵健兒穿特別設計的T-shirt參賽，亦計劃舉行一場專為乳癌康復者而設的龍舟賽，所得的收益將用作慈善用途。田北俊說，香港可謂是現代龍舟賽的發源地，因本港早於35年前已舉行全球首項國際龍舟賽，現時全球60多個國家或地區均有參與這運動，並按香港當年訂下的標準比賽。他希望藉在維港舉行比賽，吸引龍舟發燒友來港，爭取國際傳媒報道，並趁機推廣香港的夏日盛會。若比賽期間遇颱風等，會押後2周在城門河舉行。

http://orientaldaily.on.cc/cnt/news/20100415/photo/0415-00176-011b1.jpg?t=1271303818918

港拓郵輪旅業配套不足

港府欲發展郵輪旅遊業，並以成為郵輪旅遊的母港為目標，不過本港目前僅得五艘郵輪以本港為母港，去年抵港的郵輪旅客亦較前年勁跌兩成二。旅遊發展局主席田北俊接受本報訪問表示，發展郵輪業大量配套仍不足，如外國遊客在內地只獲發一次簽證，對於發展一程多站郵輪旅遊是極大障礙。他指，已向內地提出有關問題，並要求放寬郵輪旅客簽證限制。

郵輪旅客急跌22%
旅遊事務署表示，以香港為母港的郵輪只得五艘，包括歌詩達經典號、海洋神話號、精鑽探求號、寶瓶星號和Seabourn Pride。更甚者是，旅發局指本港去年郵輪旅客數字為六十萬五千人次，較○八年下跌足足兩成二。田北俊說，香港必須發展為區域的母港，才能產生經濟效益，而非郵輪旅程其中一個泊港。發展郵輪母港需要大量配套，包括通關與簽證設施、及鄰近港口之間合作等。

他指，在郵輪旅程之中，最理想是每隔二百海里即八至九小時航程，就有一個港口可供停泊。雖然本港鄰近有海南島、廈門、福建及上海等港口，可是歐美遊客仍只獲內地簽發一次性出入境簽證，若旅程涉及多個內地港口，則可能出現歐美旅客「喺上海上咗岸玩，去到廈門就唔可以落船。」對發展一程多站是極大障礙。他希望內地放寬郵輪旅客簽證，例如准許郵輪旅客一次簽證就可到三個港口遊覽，他已透過全國政協向內地提出有關建議。他相信內地支持郵輪碼頭概念，定會注意到問題。

美酒佳餚吸引巡禮加碼多一日


http://orientaldaily.on.cc/cnt/news/20100415/photo/0415-00176-013b1.jpg?t=1271304107501
http://orientaldaily.on.cc/cnt/news/20100415/photo/0415-00176-013b2.jpg?t=1271304134033

旅發局去年首次在西九海濱長廊辦美酒佳餚巡禮反應理想，原本預算約有二萬人參與，結果入場人次超標兩倍半，有七萬人次入場。因此，旅發局今年決定把節目加碼，活動由三日延長至四日，亦會邀請各地酒商向參觀者介紹美酒特色。


田北俊表示，今年美酒佳餚巡禮繼續在西九舉行，原因是鍾情於維港的海景，「咁樣先至可以襯托美酒佳餚氣氛。」市民料可像去年一樣，付出百多元購買套票，即可試飲十杯紅酒。法國波爾多及布根地一級酒莊繼續是活動的焦點，今年亦有新增一批來自澳洲、新西蘭、智利及阿根廷等新興紅酒產地的酒莊參加，提供更多價錢實惠的餐酒供市民選擇，料來自該等新興市場紅酒每瓶平均零售價二、三百港元。

夏日音樂節移師紅館
另外，旅發局支持的胡士托式音樂會「香港夏日流行音樂節」去年首次在亞洲國際博覽館舉行，但有指反應麻麻，門票仍然有剩。田北俊說，音樂會今年將移師紅磡體育館舉行，希望以便利的交通配套吸引更多人參與，活動舉行時間也會由每日八小時，縮短至每日四至五小時。音樂會籌辦人陳淑芬說，活動計劃在八月份一連兩日舉行，但詳情暫未落實。

■本報記者

LCQ20: Handling unforeseen tourism incidents
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Government Press Release

Following is a written reply by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mrs Rita Lau, to a question by the Hon Paul Tse in the Legislative Council today (April 21):

Question:

There have been comments that in the recent incident of the flights of Viva Macau being delayed or cancelled due to its financial crisis, the Tourism Crisis Management Office under the Macao Special Administrative Region Government had played an important emergency management role, whereas Hong Kong lacks a proper mechanism for handling unforeseen tourism incidents. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council, given that various government departments and the Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong are responsible for tourism matters at present, and they have often been criticised by people for lacking co-ordination, whether it has studied the deployment of staff and resources from these departments to immediately set up a unit similar to the Tourism Crisis Management Office for handling unforeseen tourism incidents in Hong Kong or overseas; if it has, of the outcome; if not, whether it will conduct such a study expeditiously?

Reply:

President,

In handling unforeseen tourism incidents, the Government's priority is to provide appropriate assistance to those affected as soon as possible. At present, government departments and related organisations already have an established mechanism to handle contingencies, which has similar purpose and functions as that of Macao's Tourism Crisis Management Office. We will review the mechanism from time to time to ensure its effectiveness.

The Philippine tour group incident, in which the tour group arrived at Hong Kong last month without a receiving party, indeed revealed some communication gaps among departments. The Tourism Commission has immediately reviewed with the concerned government departments and organisations the arrangements to handle contingencies and to notify each other. Improvement measures have been implemented. We have also decided to conduct regular drills on the notification mechanism to test the co-ordination of parties concerned and to ensure that the mechanism will fulfil its objectives.

The Tourism Commission will continue to work closely with relevant government departments and organisations to ensure that unforeseen tourism incidents will be handled properly.

http://orientaldaily.on.cc/cnt/news/20100717/photo/0717-00174-001k1.jpg

女導遊阿珍曝光 政府促釘牌
2010年07月17日
http://the-sun.on.cc/img/logo_tsn.png

香港女導遊在旅遊巴上辱罵內地遊客購物太少的惡行震驚中港，此名惡女當時正為金凱國際旅遊有限公司帶團，姓李叫阿珍，是一名註冊導遊，○七年曾因強迫旅客購物而遭停牌。金凱國際旅遊昨日主動證實事件，直認聘請阿珍接待該團，對她的行為十分失望，明言以後永不錄用，並願意免費接待受害旅客再次遊港作為補償。旅遊事務署指事態嚴重，促旅遊業議會將涉事女導遊釘牌，同時勿輕易放生涉事旅行社。

金凱國際旅遊昨日下午五時多主動召開記者會交代事件，將事件歸咎於現被內地網民謔稱為「導遊阿珍」的阿珍身上。金凱副總經理崔錦銘證實，互聯網片段中被罵的團友是金凱接待，罵人女導遊是金凱所聘用的自僱導遊。
廣東衞視以謾罵恐嚇形容阿珍的惡行。

http://the-sun.on.cc/cnt/news/20100717/photo/0717-00407-006b2.jpg
廣東衞視以謾罵恐嚇形容阿珍的惡行。

http://the-sun.on.cc/cnt/news/20100717/photo/0717-00407-006b3.jpg
上海東方衞視主持人以「母夜叉」形容導遊阿珍。 電視畫面

http://the-sun.on.cc/cnt/news/20100717/photo/0717-00407-006b4.jpg
金凱旅遊副總經理崔錦銘強調，早已向所有導遊發出指引。

補鑊免費請團友再來港

崔錦銘隨即讀出聲明，就今次有內地客被強迫購物、並引致他們不滿深表遺憾，又指金凱對該女導遊的表現十分失望，決定永不錄用。雖然旅行社未有因此事收到旅客投訴，但為表歉意及維護香港旅業聲譽，旅行社願免費接待受影響旅客再來港遊玩一次。

崔錦銘強調，公司有規管導遊操守及服務水準，要求導遊遵守旅議會的守則。公司每月都召開例會，要求導遊簽署確認「十大規條」，包括承諾遵守旅議會的作業守則、絕不強迫旅客購物及不會逼客繳交服務費等。金凱本周三已再去信導遊，重申絕不容許任何強迫旅客購物事件，並推出新措施，如任何導遊被投訴，將即時停團一星期，如半年內被投訴三次或以上及任何投訴成立，都會被即時解僱。

據稱旅議會以至金凱一直未能聯絡到阿珍，崔錦銘說：「我都想接觸佢，畀番份報告我哋，公司會繼續尋人。」他稱，明白事件嚴重影響香港旅業聲譽和形象，旅行社會向旅議會呈交報告，希望徹查事件及嚴懲導遊，旅行社若有違規亦願接受懲處。出席記者會的香港（內地入境團）導遊總工會主席謝北拱，亦批評「阿珍」的言行損害導遊形象，令全行蒙羞。
內地移居本港帶團八年

至於事件女主角阿珍未有露面回應事件。阿珍是旅議會註冊導遊，有業內人士指她早年由內地移居香港，在港帶團約八年，主要接待內地團。阿珍早有「劏客」前科，旅議會證實，她在○七年曾被投訴服務態度欠佳及強迫遊客購物，遭議會停牌一個月。

旅遊事務專員容偉雄昨午就事件與旅議會開會，他在會後表示，政府非常關注事件，當局已責成旅議會嚴肅處理。他更指涉事的女導遊嚴重違規，旅議會規條委員會要認真考慮撤銷其導遊資格，涉事旅行社亦應負上責任，若查明有違規，旅議會須嚴厲處理。

^^ What a shame... it's a disgrace
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^^ What a shame... it's a disgrace
2C792nTsIpo

Closer eye on tour trade urged
The Standard
Monday, July 26, 2010

Lawmakers and travel agents yesterday urged the government to work more closely with the tourist industry but to avoid putting a minimum price tag on tours as this would weaken competition.

They also called for more tourist agents to be appointed to the Travel Industry Council so the trade would have a stronger voice.

The concerns were raised by a string of negative incidents over the past few months which saw one mainland man die of a heart attack after arguing with a tour guide and another guide haranguing tourists for not spending enough.

At RTHK's City Forum yesterday, council chairman Michael Wu Siu-ieng said fixed tour charges would not solve the problem "but may impede competition in the tourist industry."

Tourism-sector legislator Paul Tse Wai-chun urged the government to "work with the mainland tour industry to map out open and transparent regulations for both sides, in terms of price, service, quality and duty."

He said the number of mainland outbound tour agencies had risen from about 80 in 2001-02 to more than 10,000 now, but most of them have limited experience.

So the weakly supervised mainland industry was having a detrimental effect on Hong Kong's inbound tours.

Hong Kong (Mainland Inbound) Travel Guides General Union chairman Tse yun-sang said "zero and low charge tours" have "hidden rules" which are accepted by mainland tourists.

"Still, it is strongly suggested that all travelers be made clearly aware about these service items," he said.

Number of visitors to HK breaks record in H1
HONG KONG, July 27 (PNA/Xinhua) -- Visitor arrivals to Hong Kong in the first half of this year reached a record 16.86 million, rising 23 percent compare with the same period last year, the city's Tourism Board said Tuesday.

The mainland's positive economic outlook has boosted travel and consumption sentiments, bringing 10.48 million mainland visitor arrivals to Hong Kong in the first six months - the first time the figure has topped 10 million.

During the same period, the cumulative arrivals among all markets also saw the greatest year-on-year growth of 26.9 percent.

Board chairman James Tien said the recovering global economy has helped boost travel propensity and sustain visitor arrivals' growth momentum this year.

"We saw not just significant year-on-year growth, but also a leap upward from the 2008 level in many markets," Tien said.

The board expects the positive trend will continue into this summer and visitor numbers will grow 20 percent to 25 percent.http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=6&sid=&nid=6&rid=290576

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Both sides of the border need to be educated the importance of reasonable pricing. HK operators should not take on 0-fee tours from the mainland and mainland consumers need to understand they get what they pay for.

Agencies sign up for 'quality' tours
13 August 2010
South China Morning Post

Tourism authorities on both sides of the border are hoping to steer mainland visitors to "quality and honest" tours of Hong Kong costing from about 200 yuan (HK$229) a day in renewed efforts to stamp out cheap shopping tours that have hurt the city's image as a holiday destination.

So far, 32 tour operators in Shenzhen have signed up with the Hong Kong Tourism Board to promote and sell "quality" tours that are priced on average from about 190 yuan for a one-day trip and 390 yuan for a two-day stay. Board chairman James Tien Pei-chun said these tour prices reflected the true cost of reasonably accommodating, feeding, transporting and entertaining mainland visitors.

"The concept of cost has to be emphasised in China. You cannot really go to Hong Kong, pay 200 yuan and spend two or three days there," Tien said at a promotional campaign in Shenzhen yesterday.

Hong Kong has hit the headlines after cases of tour guides forcing mainland visitors to shop in the city as part of underpriced tours and openly complaining when groups do not shop or do not shop enough.

A public furore last month over tour guide Li Hau-chun's outburst against her tour group for not shopping enough spurred government and tourism officials to act against operators of cheap shopping tours. Such underpriced tours require visitors to spend at designated shops so guides can earn commission.

Yi Nengquan, the deputy head of Shenzhen's tourism bureau, said he expected more tour operators to sign on to sell "quality and honest" tours of Hong Kong. Last month, undercover agents posing as mainland tourists to check on tour operators offering "quality" tours found some cases where customers did not get what they paid for. Two travel agencies were fined 100,000 yuan each as a result, Yi said. The maximum penalty is a fine of 500,000 yuan, and the tour operator's licence can be revoked.

Mainland visitors joining tour groups to Hong Kong should be wary of the term "quality and honest". Very often, it is freely used by tour operators, whether or not they have agreed with the board to sell these tours.

Board data show Hong Kong had 54.5 per cent more mainland visitors in June than a year ago. Last month, the year-on-year increase was more than 40 per cent, while the first 10 days of this month saw the number of mainlanders rise 34 per cent. Tien said it was too early to tell if the negative publicity over cheap tours was behind the slowing rate of increase.

TABLE-HK July visitor arrivals up 31.9 pct yr/yr
19 August 2010

Aug 19 (Reuters) - Visitor arrivals to Hong Kong in July increased 31.9 percent from a year earlier to about 3.14 million, data from the Hong Kong Tourism Board showed, reflecting a surge in visitors from mainland China.

The figure brings cumulative arrivals for the first seven months of 2010 to about 20 million, up 24.4 percent from the same period last year.

Visitor arrivals: (pct change yr/yr):

July June May April March Feb Jan
31.9 43.5 38.9 14.6 14.4 32.5 5.9


Following is a summary of visitor arrivals by
Country/Territory in July.
No. of % Growth
Country/Territory Arrivals Year/Year
Mainland China 2,011,837 +40.4
South & Southeast Asia 279,556 +38.9
Europe, Africa & The Middle East 171,506 +10.7
The Americas 150,305 +10.6
North Asia 178,965 +15.4
Taiwan 210,059 +10.4
Australia, New Zealand &
South Pacific 62,209 +10.3
Macau 72,357 +40.4

($1=7.8 Hong Kong Dollar)

Salons make quality tourism cut
The Standard
Monday, August 23, 2010

Hair - that should bring the rich tai-tais from across the border flooding into Hong Kong, according to the Tourism Board.

In an attempt to promote what it calls Quality Tourism Services, the board has accredited six salons - Hair Corner, Headquarters Limited, Salon Go Go, Lobby Hair Dressing, kr+ and kimrobinson - to provide middle- to high-end services, with the cost of haircuts ranging from HK$188 to HK1,000.

Hair Corner, with three premises in the territory, said about 10 percent of its business comes from tourists, half of whom are from the mainland.

Operator Ngai Wing-yip said this trend appears to be growing.

"Many tourists believe local hairdressers are up with the latest trends and there is an adequate choice of imported quality hairdressing products from which they can choose," he said.

The tourism services scheme previously only covered the retail, catering sectors and licensed guesthouses. It was extended to hairdressing in April.

Mainland customers of another accredited salon, Headquarters Limited, mostly businessmen and young visitors, spend around HK$1,500 to HK$5,000 each visit, manager Tsang Chiu-mo said.

"We've attracted a wide range of customers with the certification. Some mainland clients request specific hairstyles of Hong Kong celebrities, though some have to be reminded not to spit or smoke in the salon," he said.

Tourism Board executive director Anthony Lau Chun-hon said the accreditation will stimulate demand for services and raise standards of salons and products.

The Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency will conduct regular and random visits to hair salons to ensure they maintain service quality.

According to government statistics, a record 16.8 million tourists visited Hong Kong in the first half of this year - a 23 percent increase over the same period last year. Of these, about 10 million came from the mainland.

Not sure where I should put this but this is another good news...

烏克蘭將免特區護照簽證
(明報)2010年9月4日 星期六 16:00

港府今日與烏克蘭 政府簽訂免簽證協定，特區護照 持有人從11月3日起，將可免簽證前往烏克蘭旅遊。

保安局 局長李少光 代表特區政府 與烏克蘭外交部部長格里先科，在香港禮賓府 簽訂互免簽證協定。

行政長官 曾蔭權 與烏克蘭總統亞努科維奇見證簽署儀式。

該協定可讓香港特區護照持有人免簽證前往烏克蘭旅遊，最長可逗留十四日。同樣，烏克蘭國民亦可免簽證前往香港旅遊，最長可逗留十四日。

保安局發言人稱：「該協定將待完成內部程序後，於本年十一月三日生效。」

發言人續說：「我們歡迎雙方達成互免簽證協定。該協定讓香港特區護照持有人在旅遊時享有更大的便利，並有助加強香港與烏克蘭在貿易、商業及旅遊方面的聯繫。」

烏克蘭是第142個同意給予香港特區護照持有人免簽證或落地簽證入境旅遊待遇的國家 a區。

Not sure where I should put this but this is another good news...

didn't know we can visit 142 countries/regions visa-free or by ground-visa.
that sounds like a lot!

didn't know we can visit 142 countries/regions visa-free or by ground-visa.
that sounds like a lot!
The HK passport is quite good except ... the visa requirement for the almighty USA.

The HK passport is quite good except ... the visa requirement for the almighty USA.

i think getting a us visa these days with a hksar passport is like a joke, unless you are on the wanted list. you just have to go through the process with the paperwork, and be at the consulate one morning.
at the end, the american takes the HK$1k+ per application, approved or not. the americans are broke in the bank. they have to somehow take the money from the Chinese to pay back the debt they owe the Chinese government. every penny counts.

HK, Ukraine sign visa-free pact


http://www.news.gov.hk/tc/category/lawandorder/100904/html/100904p018jpg.jpg


Hong Kong and the Ukraine have signed an agreement allowing HKSAR passport holders to visit the country for up to 14 days without a visa. The agreement will be effective from November 3.


　

Secretary for Security Ambrose Lee signed the agreement on the mutual abolition of visa requirements with Ukrainan Minister for Foreign Affairs Kostyantyn Gryshchenko.


　

The agreement brings the total number of countries and territories granting visa-free access to HKSAR passport holders to 142.


　

Commissioner of Customs & Excise Richard Yuen also signed a co-operative arrangement with Ukrainian State Customs Service Chairman Ihor Kaletnik.


　

It signifies the mutual commitment of the two customs administrations, enhancing co-operation in combating transnational smuggling and criminal activities. They will work more closely through mutual administrative assistance on information exchange and enforcement of Customs laws.

菲官員指港旅遊業損失較大
(星島)2010年9月6日 星期一 13:38

有菲律賓官員表示，挾持人質事件後，本港旅遊業的損失可能會大過菲律賓業界。

菲律賓觀光部長接受當地傳媒訪問，指事件發生後，取消來港行程的菲律賓人數目，多於取消到菲律賓的香港旅客。不過，他未有提供確實的數字。

觀光部長指，來自香港及中國內地的旅客收益，佔菲律賓旅遊產業值只有大約百分之九至十，相對下菲律賓旅客在本港旅遊業中佔的比重較大。

菲律賓傳媒報道，挾持人質事件發生後，往返馬尼拉及香港的菲律賓旅客，由以往每日平均300人，減至目前大約80人。


Really? I'm curious...
220 less tourists in HK per day but how much do they spend?
And how much do HK people spend in the Philippines everyday? I wonder if there are any figures...

Really? So what? No figures...

No impact on HK tourism at all, I don't mind losing the entire Philipines market.

No impact on HK tourism at all, I don't mind losing the entire Philipines market.

Well ...

http://www.tourism.gov.hk/english/statistics/statistics_perform.html

Let's say 16.9 million tourists arrived for half a year = maybe approximately 33 million tourists a year... 220*365 = 80,000 Filipino tourists...

80k/33m = 0.2% :lol:

And in 2009...
http://partnernet.hktourismboard.com/pnweb/jsp/doc/listDoc.jsp?doc_id=129118
we had 2.89 million tourists from S/SE Asia alone. The Philippines account for only 2.8% of that regional market...

菲官員指港旅遊業損失較大
(星島)2010年9月6日 星期一 13:38

有菲律賓官員表示，挾持人質事件後，本港旅遊業的損失可能會大過菲律賓業界。

菲律賓觀光部長接受當地傳媒訪問，指事件發生後，取消來港行程的菲律賓人數目，多於取消到菲律賓的香港旅客。不過，他未有提供確實的數字。

觀光部長指，來自香港及中國內地的旅客收益，佔菲律賓旅遊產業值只有大約百分之九至十，相對下菲律賓旅客在本港旅遊業中佔的比重較大。

菲律賓傳媒報道，挾持人質事件發生後，往返馬尼拉及香港的菲律賓旅客，由以往每日平均300人，減至目前大約80人。


Really? I'm curious...
220 less tourists in HK per day but how much do they spend?
And how much do HK people spend in the Philippines everyday? I wonder if there are any figures...

Well ...

http://www.tourism.gov.hk/english/statistics/statistics_perform.html

Let's say 16.9 million tourists arrived for half a year = maybe approximately 33 million tourists a year... 220*365 = 80,000 Filipino tourists...

80k/33m = 0.2% :lol:

And in 2009...
http://partnernet.hktourismboard.com/pnweb/jsp/doc/listDoc.jsp?doc_id=129118
we had 2.89 million tourists from S/SE Asia alone. The Philippines account for only 2.8% of that regional market...


大拿拿成8萬人WOR，班賓大爺不來香港消費，我地連屎都無得食啦！你禮拜日去去中環和維園，便知道香港人的溫飽其實全取決於賓大爺的消費。如果沒有賓大爺的施捨和接濟，中環和廣東道還會有那麼多名店嗎？


所以話做人要飲水思源，與其等死，不如勸諭政府就港人反菲律賓政府和特警的言論向菲國人民道歉。雖然有點屈辱，但留得青山在，那怕無柴燒呢！

大拿拿成8萬人WOR，班賓大爺不來香港消費，我地連屎都無得食啦！你禮拜日去去中環和維園，便知道香港人的溫飽其實全取決於賓大爺的消費。如果沒有賓大爺的施捨和接濟，中環和廣東道還會有那麼多名店嗎？


所以話做人要飲水思源，與其等死，不如勸諭政府就港人反菲律賓政府和特警的言論向菲國人民道歉。雖然有點屈辱，但留得青山在，那怕無柴燒呢！

係喎！的確言之有理！幸得大師指點迷津，否則晚輩連屎都無得食啦！

Really? I'm curious...
220 less tourists in HK per day but how much do they spend?
And how much do HK people spend in the Philippines everyday? I wonder if there are any figures...

Seems a bit odd given there are so many flights between HK and Manila every day. I don't think it's all accounted for by HK tourists and maids. I expect a lot more tourists.

Seems a bit odd given there are so many flights between HK and Manila every day. I don't think it's all accounted for by HK tourists and maids. I expect a lot more tourists.

The only Philippine tourist group I've heard about was the one half a year ago when they arrived and got ripped off by some stupid agents and have no money to spend, which HK's government paid for their accommodation and all that...

Seems a bit odd given there are so many flights between HK and Manila every day. I don't think it's all accounted for by HK tourists and maids. I expect a lot more tourists.

I think a lot of the passenger base are transit.
Usually when I fly back from New York by CX, I see a lot of Filipinos on the same flight. Probably in double digit by percentage are Filipinos, and many of them check-in with boxes of electronic. If one flight carries 20-30 Filipinos, it takes only four to five flights to fill a mid-size aircraft.

The only Philippine tourist group I've heard about was the one half a year ago when they arrived and got ripped off by some stupid agents and have no money to spend, which HK's government paid for their accommodation and all that...

Looking at the tourism statistics, it's more like 1500 a day for July :
http://partnernet.hktb.com/pnweb/primg/Arr%20Table%20%281-8%29%2007%202010.pdf

371k Philippine visitor arrivals from Jan - Jul 2010.

Looking at the tourism statistics, it's more like 1500 a day for July :
http://partnernet.hktb.com/pnweb/primg/Arr%20Table%20%281-8%29%2007%202010.pdf

371k Philippine visitor arrivals from Jan - Jul 2010.

Thanks for ur more accurate info! I have no idea where the Filipino media quoted from...

And I also don't understand the point of saying HK lose more than the Philippines - doesn't sound professional/mature to me

Thanks for ur more accurate info! I have no idea where the Filipino media quoted from...

And I also don't understand the point of saying HK lose more than the Philippines - doesn't sound professional/mature to me

Yea .. that number didn't look right considering CX and PAL send 747s to Hong Kong. I rode on CX to Manila on a 747 and it was quite full.

I think HK is a major shopping destination for wealthy Filipinos. I did a quick browse of the luxury shops in Manila (Greenbelt) last year and the prices were significantly higher than in HK!

Then again, the same Prada wallet I saw in Milan was 20% more costly in HK!

Yea .. that number didn't look right considering CX and PAL send 747s to Hong Kong. I rode on CX to Manila twice on 747s and both flights were quite full.

I think HK is a major shopping destination for wealthy Filipinos. I did a quick browse of the luxury shops in Manila (Greenbelt) last year and the prices were significantly higher than in HK!

Then again, the same Prada wallet I saw in Milan was 20% more costly in HK!

Well... assuming that all 200k or so Filipino maids go home once a year, and doing so evenly spread out, already needed one 747 with a one class (economy) configuration on a daily basis.

Any idea whether the statistics took into account those who work in HK?

Well... assuming that all 200k or so Filipino maids go home once a year, and doing so evenly spread out, already needed one 747 with a one class (economy) configuration on a daily basis.

Any idea whether the statistics took into account those who work in HK?
You might need to dig the tourism authority website for the definition of 'visitor', but I doubt immigrants or people on work visas would be considered a visitor from a tourism perspective.

You might need to dig the tourism authority website for the definition of 'visitor', but I doubt immigrants or people on work visas would be considered a visitor from a tourism perspective.

Well, that's the immediate easy way where their media's figures tie up with what we've got here... 200k plus their alleged 300 per day = around 300k

I'll have a look later maybe

部長誑言：慘劇打擊港旅遊業


2010年09月07日

馬尼拉人質慘劇後，港人到菲律賓旅遊興致大減，但菲律賓觀光部長阿爾貝托．林昨天口出誑言，指取消到港的菲律賓人比起取消到菲律賓的港人多，人質事件對香港旅遊業造成更大損失。

阿爾貝托．林表示，中港旅客僅佔菲律賓旅遊收益 9至 10%，人質慘劇後前往當地的中港旅客，由以往每天 300人減至 80人。他又指，相比之下，遊港菲律賓遊客，佔香港旅遊業更大比重，所以損失比菲律賓更大，但他下此判語時卻沒提供具體數字。

官員輕描淡寫，菲律賓旅行社卻說生意大受打擊。人質危機當日接待康泰旅行團的旅行社代理表示，以往每周接待近百名港客，慘劇後港客人數急跌至零，大陸和台灣遊客也分別急跌 30%。

本港旅遊發展局則指， 08及 09年菲訪港旅客佔總體訪港旅客比例約 1.9%， 56萬多人，較新加坡、台灣、日本及韓國等地少。上月訪港菲國旅客比去年同期少 775人，估計旅遊收益減少了 330萬港元。法新社

菲觀光部長死撐：港旅業損失更大:ohno:

http://img829.imageshack.us/img829/2240/nomoreplastico.png


　【本報綜合外電報道】馬尼拉人質慘劇發生後，香港特區政府向菲律賓頒布黑色旅遊警告，不少港人和內地市民都擱置前往當地旅遊的計劃。據報道，香港和內地至今已取消超過1,000個赴菲的旅行團。不過，菲國觀光部長Alberto Lim昨接受電台訪問時表示，香港旅遊業界比菲律賓同行承受的損失更大。香港旅發局則表示，菲律賓旅客只佔整體旅客不足2%，對整體的影響不大。

未有提供相關數據

　Alberto Lim指出，事發後，不敢前往香港的菲人比取消赴菲的港人多，再者，菲律賓遊客佔香港旅遊業巿場的份額，較香港遊客佔菲律賓的大。不過，Alberto Lim未有闡述詳情或提供有關數據。

　觀光部長指，來自中國內地及香港的旅客收益，佔菲律賓旅遊產業值只有大約9%至10%，相比下菲律賓旅客在本港旅遊業中佔的比重較大。

　菲律賓傳媒報道，挾持人質事件發生後，往返馬尼拉及香港的菲律賓旅客，由以往每日平均300人，減至目前大約80人。當日負責接待出事康泰旅行團的菲律賓Directions Travel亦指，自從慘劇發生後，該社已經無再接待過任何香港旅行團，來自大陸及台灣的旅客人數亦分別大減30%。慘劇發生前，該社每周均會接待最少3個香港團，平均每團有25至30人。

港旅發局：菲客減影響輕微

　香港旅遊發展局回應稱，上月來港的菲律賓旅客有所減少，但影響輕微。據旅發局資料顯示，8月份有4.4萬名菲律賓旅客來港旅遊，人次較去年同期減少了775人，去年的數據顯示，每名過夜的菲律賓旅客在港平均消費4,211元，由此推算8月份本港由菲律賓旅客所得的收益會減少約326萬元。

　另外，為表哀悼，菲律賓主教團計劃致函香港教會，並藉此展示兄弟教會的團結。主教團主席奧奇馬主教指出，他們打算下周寄出慰問信，哀悼無辜生命被剝奪，並祈求身心受創者早日康復。

[COLOR="Blue"]
http://img829.imageshack.us/img829/2240/nomoreplastico.png

:nuts:

菲觀光部長死撐：港旅業損失更大:ohno:

http://img829.imageshack.us/img829/2240/nomoreplastico.png


　【本報綜合外電報道】馬尼拉人質慘劇發生後，香港特區政府向菲律賓頒布黑色旅遊警告，不少港人和內地市民都擱置前往當地旅遊的計劃。據報道，香港和內地至今已取消超過1,000個赴菲的旅行團。不過，菲國觀光部長Alberto Lim昨接受電台訪問時表示，香港旅遊業界比菲律賓同行承受的損失更大。香港旅發局則表示，菲律賓旅客只佔整體旅客不足2%，對整體的影響不大。

未有提供相關數據

　Alberto Lim指出，事發後，不敢前往香港的菲人比取消赴菲的港人多，再者，菲律賓遊客佔香港旅遊業巿場的份額，較香港遊客佔菲律賓的大。不過，Alberto Lim未有闡述詳情或提供有關數據。

　觀光部長指，來自中國內地及香港的旅客收益，佔菲律賓旅遊產業值只有大約9%至10%，相比下菲律賓旅客在本港旅遊業中佔的比重較大。

　菲律賓傳媒報道，挾持人質事件發生後，往返馬尼拉及香港的菲律賓旅客，由以往每日平均300人，減至目前大約80人。當日負責接待出事康泰旅行團的菲律賓Directions Travel亦指，自從慘劇發生後，該社已經無再接待過任何香港旅行團，來自大陸及台灣的旅客人數亦分別大減30%。慘劇發生前，該社每周均會接待最少3個香港團，平均每團有25至30人。

港旅發局：菲客減影響輕微

　香港旅遊發展局回應稱，上月來港的菲律賓旅客有所減少，但影響輕微。據旅發局資料顯示，8月份有4.4萬名菲律賓旅客來港旅遊，人次較去年同期減少了775人，去年的數據顯示，每名過夜的菲律賓旅客在港平均消費4,211元，由此推算8月份本港由菲律賓旅客所得的收益會減少約326萬元。

　另外，為表哀悼，菲律賓主教團計劃致函香港教會，並藉此展示兄弟教會的團結。主教團主席奧奇馬主教指出，他們打算下周寄出慰問信，哀悼無辜生命被剝奪，並祈求身心受創者早日康復。

I just realised they mean people travelling from HK to the Philippines decreased from 300 to 80 per day, not the other way round.

And o shit we lost HKD$3m! I wonder how much they lost... 1000 tourist groups, assuming 15 per group and assuming they all only spend HKD$2000 in the Philippines... 1000 x 15 x 2000 = HKD$30m, i.e. 10 times more than HK's loss...

I just realised they mean people travelling from HK to the Philippines decreased from 300 to 80 per day, not the other way round.

And o shit we lost HKD$3m! I wonder how much they lost... 1000 tourist groups, assuming 15 per group and assuming they all only spend HKD$2000 in the Philippines... 1000 x 15 x 2000 = HKD$30m, i.e. 10 times more than HK's loss...

Don't forget the living index in HK is way higher than Philippines.
Assuming the different in living index is proportional to the income of lowest ranked police in both Philippines and HK; and the lowest ranked Philippines police earns ~HK$2+k per month, and the lowest ranked HK police earns just under HK$20k per month. Philippines police earns 1/10 of what HK police does.

The actual difference is the multiplier of actual amount and the living index.
The economic lost can easily be over 100 times between Philippines and HK, not 10.
A lost of $30m from HK, may mean $300m of buying power in HK term.

格林納達予特區護照免簽證
(明報)2010年9月10日 星期五 14:15

入境事務處今日宣布，格林納達已確定給予香港特區護照持有人免簽證入境待遇，前往當地旅遊最長可逗留90日。

該項安排將於今年9月20日生效。同樣，格林納達國民亦可自同日起免簽證前來香港旅遊，最長可逗留90日。

政府發言人稱：「這項安排讓香港特區護照持有人在旅遊時獲得更多的便利，並有助加強香港與格林納達在貿易、商業及旅遊方面的聯繫。」

連同格林納達在內，共有143個國家 a區已同意給予香港特區護照持有人免簽證或落地簽證待遇。

Another one! :banana:

September 10, 2010
Visa-free access to Grenada granted
Government Press Release

Hong Kong SAR passport holders can enjoy 90 days' visa-free access to Grenada from September 20. Visa-free access will also be provided to Grenadians visiting Hong Kong for up to 90 days.

Grenada is the 143rd country or territory to grant visa-free access or visa-on-arrival to HKSAR passport holders.

日韓幣值回升 訪港旅客大增

http://news.mingpao.com/20100911/go_11go601.gif


【明報專訊】今年訪港旅客屢創新高，旅發局總幹事劉鎮漢形容，日韓市場因幣值回升，表現予人驚喜；在兩岸通航的危機下，台灣市場亦出現「生機」，三地全部錄得雙位數字回升。若餘下時間外圍環境因素不變，全年訪港旅客增長可近兩成。另該局進攻3個新興市場2年，整體成績不俗，並會調整策略加強推廣。


首8月旅客增兩成


直至8月，今年訪港旅客錄得逾兩成增長，旅發局總幹事劉鎮漢接受本報訪問時指出，長途市場雖然表現一般，但日韓台等短途市場的表現讓他驚喜。其中，以來自韓國的旅客升幅最勁，首7個月的訪客量達49.5萬人次，較去年同期勁升38.2％，當中過夜旅客升四成，相信主要是去年南韓圜貶值，今年回升帶動外遊。


去年日本訪客量跌9.1％，07、08年同樣無大增長，但今年至7月卻錄得16.2％增長，客量達74.6萬。劉鎮漢相信，主要是日圓走勢強勁，「來港購物等於打八折。」該局近年亦力推行山團等綠色旅遊，相信能吸引日本客。


外界一直擔心台灣客會在兩岸通航後大幅減少，惟劉鎮漢卻指「有危才有機」，今年訪港台客升11.8％，當中花費較高的過夜旅客更大增近三成，相信是兩岸通航後，騰出更多機位，吸納更多旅客。


印俄市場升幅理想


他又總結過去2年，進軍三大新興市場的成績，印度及俄羅斯市場均有好表現。印度市場升幅最理想，今年首7月較09年同期升逾五成，俄國則因基數低，而升逾一倍。


他指，該局將會調整在兩國的宣傳策略，印度會由孟買、德里，擴展至同樣有直航的欽奈、班加羅爾；俄國則由推廣香港加海南島行程，加入香港與廣東省其他一程多站的產品。


他又說，旅發局正考慮在來年派直接隸屬該局的專員到3市場統籌，取代現時找代辦的方式，料印度先行，以更好掌握當地市場的脈搏、發展，但要視乎資源。


至於中東，是較難打入的一個市場，目前仍處於摸索階段；劉鎮漢指正進行市場研究，分析如何有效接觸目標客群之餘，亦要選擇合用的推廣方法，不排除稍後集中資源先力攻如杜拜、卡塔爾及沙特阿拉伯等國家。


劉鎮漢強調，過去2年成績不算差，今年首7個月來自中東的訪客較08年同期仍有14％增長，只是不及印度及俄羅斯的增幅。雖然中東較保守，但他指在當地推廣基本上沒甚麼大障礙，只是在當地宣傳美酒佳餚年時，因屬回教國家，故不能宣傳美酒。


明報記者 張岳弢

Grenada 格林納達 - No lie, it's the first time ever i heard of this country; and I consider my geography knowledge is better than an average HKer. lol

I wouldn't have know it's in the Caribbean if there were no Google Map!
May be I should make a trip down there on the 20th with my HKSAR passport, and be the first ever visa-free entry HKer in Grenada!

Grenada 格林納達 - No lie, it's the first time ever i heard of this country; and I consider my geography knowledge is better than an average HKer. lol

I wouldn't have know it's in the Caribbean if there were no Google Map!
May be I should make a trip down there on the 20th with my HKSAR passport, and be the first ever visa-free entry HKer in Grenada!

Heard of this since very young, but never knew its chinese name...

RT6zr8BVhK0

Grenada 格林納達 - No lie, it's the first time ever i heard of this country; and I consider my geography knowledge is better than an average HKer. lol

I wouldn't have know it's in the Caribbean if there were no Google Map!
May be I should make a trip down there on the 20th with my HKSAR passport, and be the first ever visa-free entry HKer in Grenada!

Time for a Caribbean cruise, eh? :)

Time for a Caribbean cruise, eh? :)

haha not for me - not interested in a 10-day cruise that ends up in many different "countries" in the Carribean but all only have beaches and sea and nothing else :P

旅發局變革 洗「大花筒」形象
發揚企業家精神 將工作當成自己的生意



http://sme.mpfinance.com/ftp/SME/20100305/ba01/_05LY002_.jpg
旅發局去年首度舉辦一連3天的「香港美酒佳餚巡禮」，吸引了7萬人入場，其中萬多人為遊客。今年這活動將會延長至4天。

http://sme.mpfinance.com/ftp/SME/20100305/ba01/_05LY005_.jpg
旅發局邀請本地插畫師將「香港節慶年」等多項活動演繹成圖畫，在電車車身上展示，以吸引旅客注目。
【明報專訊】因為2007年底的審計署報告，旅發局曾經被公眾視為「大花筒」。該年中臨危受命出任總幹事的劉鎮漢，這兩年半來努力推行變革，為該局「洗底」，當中包括以下三招。

旅發局總幹事劉鎮漢回憶說，當他在2007年8月上任時，該職位已懸空了幾近半年。同年底，審計署的報告出台(列出「13宗罪」，指旅發局浪費公帑)，更將同事的目標和信心打散，有些主管更因而離開。因此，他的工作就是要讓一班同事找回方向。

1. 釐清權責，初時他和高級同事開會時，每次都有廿多、卅人。好像每個人都對每件事有責任，但實質上，又好像無人要負責。因此，2008年10月，他進行改組，以釐清每個部門的權責。

2. 提高透明度，每年還會開3或4次員工大會，讓每個部門說明正在做些什麼，有什麼最新的數字，將來準備做些什麼等，以增加透明度；亦會舉辦午餐學習活動，以拉近上下層的距離。他形容，以往有些基層員工在升降機或洗手間內見到他時，顯得很尷尬，或者低頭不語，他其實也不開心。

本地節流 省錢外地推廣

外界質疑旅發局洗錢過於「疏爽」，但劉鎮漢表示，旅發局每年開支一般僅約5億元。只有2003年6月至05年3月，因為SARS後要加大力度吸引外國旅客，而獲政府合共增撥3.79億元；以及2005至2007的兩個年度，獲政府合共增撥4.7億元推行「精彩香港旅遊年」，配合士尼樂園和昂坪360纜車落成而加強宣傳攻勢。之後，開支已回復正常。

每年約5億元的開支中，約2億元用於「燈油火蠟」、薪金和租金(香港200多人，香港以外約100人)，1億元用於本地幾項大型活動及優質旅遊服務計劃，餘下約2億元則用於香港以外18個市場的推廣費用。

查詢熱線轉自營 年省百多萬

「除開十幾個市場，旅發局並不太多錢。」劉鎮漢強調，近年該局已致力節省香港的開支，將省下來的錢用於海外推廣。

3. 發揚企業家精神，他提出的管理理念中的企業家精神，就要求同事要將工作當成自己的生意般——經常想一想，若是自己的生意，你會怎樣做，以盡量開源節流。

他還要求，總經理級或以上的管理層每人每年需想出3個節省成本和3個開源的方法(但非表現指標)。例如，旅發局企業事務總經理梁美寶就提出，將銅鑼灣的旅客諮詢及服務中心關閉，將那些小冊子和地圖放在該區的酒店和商場，讓遊客索取。這樣1年可省回數十萬元租金。因為她們發覺，進入該服務中心的，大多數都是香港人，很多遊客都已懂得去銅鑼灣的商場和百貨公司。

同時，以往的電話查詢熱線是外判給某電訊公司接聽。但遊客的電話查詢其實有限，計算下來，外判接聽每個電話的平均成本居然要20多、30元。

因此，旅發局亦接納她的建議，由自己的辦事處接聽電話查詢。雖然要增加些少設備，但每年可省回百多萬元。

另外，以往該局每年的印刷支出達1700萬元，現在亦減至800多萬至900萬元。這包括了削減印刷量和頁數等。例如，一些冷門地點的資料，現在就不會事先印製，而只會待有遊客查詢時，才用電腦列印出來。劉鎮漢表示，該局還在研究，讓遊客經WiFi網絡，將旅遊資料下載至手機中，希望進一步節省印刷量。

爭取遊客優惠 貴精不貴多

但劉鎮漢亦強調，不是一味以取消外判或者以數量來看成效。例如，他叫同事向商戶爭取現金代用券，送給在某網站上訂機票來港旅遊的遊客，就明言貴精不貴多，十張八張已足夠。例如，可以憑券在化妝品連鎖店免費索取香水辦；或者在食肆吃東西可獲折扣優惠，或贈飲港式奶茶等。不要好像美國某州，幾十張代用券，卻全都用不。

又好像該局出版一本飲食書，需要推薦100家食肆。有同事擔心它們是否穩陣、會否執笠，想每個月打電話去問，以經常修訂名單。他就覺得，這樣做有如花時間「石仔」，倒不如將編製工作外判給那方面的專家，自己保留時間用來度橋。


大型活動定指標測成效




【明報專訊】2007年底，審計署的報告指出，旅發局其中3個大型活動開支高而成效低，有些更超支。具體批評包括：大半的遊客來港前都不知有該項活動，只有4%(甚至1%)的遊客是為了該活動而來。

記者發覺，有些大型活動改了名，如夏天的「香港購物節」便變了「香港夏日盛會」。劉鎮漢表示，這是因為夏天不應該只有購物，所以去年便和演藝界合作，在亞洲博覽館辦了兩天的「香港夏日流行音樂節」，反應不錯。今年計劃移師紅館舉行，預料對東南亞、台灣和內地的旅客有一定的吸引力。此外，7月底還會在尖東海旁重辦香港國際龍舟賽。他強調，後者的1700萬元開支中，旅發局只計劃撥款500萬元，其餘1200萬元需要找商業贊助、入場費或場內的廣告收入等湊夠。

至於檢討大型活動的成效，則會透過在現場及出境口岸向旅客做調查。所問的問題包括：來港前是否知悉這活動，是否專程為這活動而來，給這活動幾多分，會否再來，會否向人推薦等。但他就以新舊活動不同為由，始終不願透露上述數據(如旅客來港前知悉活動的百分率，專程為這活動而來的百分率)要多大才為之達標。

新加坡的「聖淘沙名勝世界」來勢洶洶，包括環球影城、海洋生物園、海事博物館、賭場、購物餐飲區及多間酒店等眾多設施(部分在今年內落成)，好像要「盡擁天下兵器」，處處衝香港和澳門而來，甚具針對性，香港如何競爭？

港擁3優勢 毋懼星競爭

劉鎮漢表示，新加坡的宣傳聲勢做得不錯，他頗關心，但暫時未看到什麼。相反，他認為，香港旅遊業仍有3項核心競爭力﹕

第一，是成熟的服務。例如，很多的士司機會說多謝；服務業員工多笑容；飲食業員工不待你開口已替你茶等。

第二，是多元化的旅遊產品。除了購物便宜之外，香港的飲食、中西節慶和盛事、本土文化、旅遊基建(海洋公園、迪士尼、山頂纜車、昂坪360)等，都有其吸引力。

第三，是一程多站的功能。香港若善用其交通樞紐的優勢，可以和澳門及泛珠三角有很多合作。

「誰是朋友，誰是敵人，有時很難說。我剛上任時，人們說澳門是香港的敵人，但現在人們又說澳門是香港的朋友。」他認為，新加坡現在才只有一個賭場，但澳門卻已有多個賭場。香港和澳門及珠三角可以有很多合作，但新加坡和周邊卻沒有什麼合作。

藥房職員惡行　遭台灣人唱衰為 40元打遊客　香港形象破產


【本報訊】繼惡導遊阿珍重創香港旅遊業形象後，尖沙嘴一間藥房公然打罵台灣旅客，更令香港購物天堂美譽雪上加霜。該藥房先以貴市價三倍價錢出售貨品懷疑「搵笨」，又出手打傷要求退款的台灣旅客，過程被拍下短片上網，觸發台灣網民群起聲討。被打傷的台灣旅客曾先生和朋友誓言來港追究到底，「無論花多少錢，都要透過法律制裁這些人！」警方表示已拘捕兩名涉案男店員。記者：林浚川　蔡朗清

被打傷的 26歲台灣旅客曾先生昨日委託同行朋友沈先生向本報講述經過。他表示月初和兩男一女同事共四人來港旅遊， 9月 6日晚上女同事因皮膚不適，到位於海防道的海港大藥房購買名為「嫡護霜」的藥膏，「我們給店員一百元，他只找回三十，女同事覺得奇怪，因為她買過，不會那麼貴，店員於是又多給我們兩元，就說是市場價」。

特寫爆粗職員認衰道歉
短片中的海港大藥房職員，人人殺氣騰騰，聲大夾惡，粗口連珠炮發，記者昨日前往採訪前，已經做足捱罵心理準備，沒料到場面卻出乎意料地平靜，一班店員對記者非常客氣，既沒有出言辱罵，也沒有出手將記者請到門外，最後更低頭道歉認錯，原來店內有一名便衣警員正在向藥房經理問話。昨午 2時許記者到達海港大藥房時，店內約有五名職員正在用餐，包括短片中向台灣遊客「爆粗」及推撞的兩名年輕店員，記者道明來意後，眾人低頭不語，態度和氣氛均與短片所見截然不同，其後有人說「老闆唔喺度」，亦有人叫記者「等一陣，經理同阿 sir傾緊」，記者望向店內深處，發現一名便衣警員正與姓莫男經理談話。

「我都知自己錯」
莫經理身材健碩，頭染金髮，他否認是老闆，又說事發時不在場。採訪期間莫經理一直態度友善，但當記者質疑該店曾屢次被投訴「呃人」時，他即時黑臉說：「呢啲嘢唔講！」記者又問其中一名年輕店員當日為何爆粗動手，正當該店員想解釋時，莫經理上前制止，着店員長話短說，結果該店員放棄解釋，直接低頭認錯：「咁一係我向佢道歉，好唔好？我都唔想，我都知自己錯。」該名便衣警員離開藥房時，拒回應是否正在調查該宗傷人案。本報記者

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1)台灣遊客曾先生與女友人在海港大藥房付百元鈔票購買藥膏，店員只找贖 32元，兩人質疑 68元太貴，但職員指價錢合理
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2)曾先生一行四人其後發現多間藥房均以二十多元出售該種藥膏，感到被騙
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3)兩日後，四人回到海港大藥房，指摘該店藥膏比其他商店貴三倍，形同欺詐，要求退款
http://hk.apple.nextmedia.com/images/apple-photos/apple/20100918/large/A02_01_d.gif
4)藥房職員拒絕退款，發現曾先生一行人拍攝影片後更不停「爆粗」，又圖掟物件襲擊他們。
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5)其後職員追出阻止拍攝，與曾先生一行人一度在馬路發生推撞
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香港商家打人.
ID958AcB8B8

ohsHiTx0x
11 minutes ago 在港大陸哩≠香港人





香港形象破產
W0ifuBus28c

alfredisney
40 minutes ago 香港人多謝遊客舉報這些害群之馬,遺憾這位人兄進了黑店,畢竟這*些黑店在香港不多,否則你不會在另三家店子以廿多元買到同牌子的*藥膏,買東西要進連鎖店或貼有香港旅遊協會標貼的商戶買,便可以*萬無一失,老實說,每個地方都有黑店,我去台灣也一樣給商家搵過*笨,但轉幾個彎,就不記得那店子在那裏了!!!

ags133
1 hour ago 有線有訪問他,他鄉音確是大陸人

PoohRyan
2 hours ago 國內同胞常常說香港不是靠祖國一早就掛，請問國內同胞為什麼要到*香港發展?

要不是我們香港人不停捐錢及把物資運去國內，你們一早在地震及水*患時就死

光光吧!!!到現在還假裝成香港人，要不是經濟上的利益老外根本*依舊看不起我們

注意: 大部香港人講國語有港式口音；所有旅客要買藥及日用品應該去  watson's(台灣有分店)或萬寧比較有保障。  希望所有旅客繼續到香港旅遊

食尚玩家就要醬玩 - 搭地鐵遊香港(上) - 2010/7/01 - Part 1

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食尚玩家就要醬玩 - 搭地鐵遊香港(上) - 2010/7/01 - Part 2

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食尚玩家就要醬玩 - 搭地鐵遊香港(上) - 2010/7/01 - Part 3

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食尚玩家就要醬玩 - 搭地鐵遊香港(上) - 2010/7/01 - Part 4

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食尚玩家就要醬玩 - 搭地鐵遊香港(上) - 2010/7/01 - Part 5

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大嶼山打造港版聖淘沙

香港短期內無新旅遊景點落成，重新包裝現有景點自我增值是唯一自救方法。香港旅遊業界計劃將大嶼山打造成香港的聖淘沙島，將香港迪士尼樂園、昂坪纜車及大澳水鄉等景點串連重新包裝向旅客推廣。構思中包括因應旅客的不同喜好推出多款旅遊套票供選擇，並於下月試辦推行。


香港迪士尼樂園、昂坪纜車、香港亞洲博覽館、離島區議會、香港旅遊發展局、旅遊業議會及旅遊業界將於本月十八日舉行集思大會，優化有關推廣計劃，並計劃製作一套大嶼山旅遊宣傳短片，以便旅發局日後到海外宣傳推廣。

下月《清明上河圖》展覽試行
大嶼山的旅遊景點各有特色，除香港迪士尼樂園及昂坪纜車外，還有寶蓮寺、心經簡林、大澳水鄉、東涌炮台、綠色旅遊（遠足及出海觀賞中華白海豚）、遊逛東涌散貨場、參觀亞洲博覽館，以及離島區議會推介的文化旅遊等，可謂集玩樂、購物及遊覽於一島。


要飽覽大嶼山的景色，乘搭昂坪纜車是其中一個選擇。 （高嘉業攝）
構思中推出的旅遊套票有多款組合，如香港亞洲博覽館加迪士尼樂園、昂坪纜車加綠色旅遊等，有定點旅遊巴接載旅客往來不同景點，主題公園門票以綑綁形式及折扣優惠價發售，具體行程設計未有定案。套票遊暫定只在某些日子推出，下月香港亞洲博覽館展出《清明上河圖》，套票遊將試行推出，測試反應。

香港迪士尼樂園公共事務副總裁盧炳松指，業界對打造大嶼山旅遊景區反應正面，香港迪士尼將統籌提供一個平台讓各企業溝通，並製作宣傳短片推廣，同時亦已接觸馬灣挪亞方舟主題公園邀請對方加入套票遊。

盧炳松指出，自助遊及內地個人遊旅客愈來愈多，這類旅客較喜歡選擇套票遊，加上港珠澳大橋快將動工興建，日後會有不少旅客在大嶼山停留，推出套票遊正是為迎客做好部署準備。他們已將有關構思向港府反映，亦希望運輸署可配合放行讓套票遊的旅遊巴可在指定地點上落客。
http://orientaldaily.on.cc/cnt/news/20101006/photo/1006-00176-046b1.jpg?t=1286347203283

聖淘沙島乃新加坡其中一個旅遊熱點


http://orientaldaily.on.cc/cnt/news/20101006/photo/1006-00176-046b2.jpg?t=1286347228031

要飽覽大嶼山的景色，乘搭昂坪纜車是其中一個選擇。

大嶼山打造港版聖淘沙

香港短期內無新旅遊景點落成，重新包裝現有景點自我增值是唯一自救方法。香港旅遊業界計劃將大嶼山打造成香港的聖淘沙島，將香港迪士尼樂園、昂坪纜車及大澳水鄉等景點串連重新包裝向旅客推廣。構思中包括因應旅客的不同喜好推出多款旅遊套票供選擇，並於下月試辦推行。


香港迪士尼樂園、昂坪纜車、香港亞洲博覽館、離島區議會、香港旅遊發展局、旅遊業議會及旅遊業界將於本月十八日舉行集思大會，優化有關推廣計劃，並計劃製作一套大嶼山旅遊宣傳短片，以便旅發局日後到海外宣傳推廣。

下月《清明上河圖》展覽試行
大嶼山的旅遊景點各有特色，除香港迪士尼樂園及昂坪纜車外，還有寶蓮寺、心經簡林、大澳水鄉、東涌炮台、綠色旅遊（遠足及出海觀賞中華白海豚）、遊逛東涌散貨場、參觀亞洲博覽館，以及離島區議會推介的文化旅遊等，可謂集玩樂、購物及遊覽於一島。


要飽覽大嶼山的景色，乘搭昂坪纜車是其中一個選擇。 （高嘉業攝）
構思中推出的旅遊套票有多款組合，如香港亞洲博覽館加迪士尼樂園、昂坪纜車加綠色旅遊等，有定點旅遊巴接載旅客往來不同景點，主題公園門票以綑綁形式及折扣優惠價發售，具體行程設計未有定案。套票遊暫定只在某些日子推出，下月香港亞洲博覽館展出《清明上河圖》，套票遊將試行推出，測試反應。

香港迪士尼樂園公共事務副總裁盧炳松指，業界對打造大嶼山旅遊景區反應正面，香港迪士尼將統籌提供一個平台讓各企業溝通，並製作宣傳短片推廣，同時亦已接觸馬灣挪亞方舟主題公園邀請對方加入套票遊。

盧炳松指出，自助遊及內地個人遊旅客愈來愈多，這類旅客較喜歡選擇套票遊，加上港珠澳大橋快將動工興建，日後會有不少旅客在大嶼山停留，推出套票遊正是為迎客做好部署準備。他們已將有關構思向港府反映，亦希望運輸署可配合放行讓套票遊的旅遊巴可在指定地點上落客。
http://orientaldaily.on.cc/cnt/news/20101006/photo/1006-00176-046b1.jpg?t=1286347203283

聖淘沙島乃新加坡其中一個旅遊熱點


http://orientaldaily.on.cc/cnt/news/20101006/photo/1006-00176-046b2.jpg?t=1286347228031

要飽覽大嶼山的景色，乘搭昂坪纜車是其中一個選擇。

得唔得架......?

得唔得架......?

我覺得好難lor，畢竟大嶼山的景點好分散，而且大陸自由行對天壇大佛的興趣不大。與其炒冷飯，不如起多D旅遊點仲實際.

我覺得好難lor，畢竟大嶼山的景點好分散，而且大陸自由行對天壇大佛的興趣不大。與其炒冷飯，不如起多D旅遊點仲實際.

幾年前都講過發展長沙做 resort，家陣咪又係無嘥聲氣。
家陣可以好好搞好竹篙灣/迪士尼發展，其實已經可以有好大吸引力，
一期仲有啲地吉係到，二期填埋海又係齋坐。
如期打大嶼山嘅山頭主意，走去破壞大自然，倒不如集中發展竹篙灣啦~

幾年前都講過發展長沙做 resort，家陣咪又係無嘥聲氣。
家陣可以好好搞好竹篙灣/迪士尼發展，其實已經可以有好大吸引力，
一期仲有啲地吉係到，二期填埋海又係齋坐。
如期打大嶼山嘅山頭主意，走去破壞大自然，倒不如集中發展竹篙灣啦~


咪係！搞好D迪迪尼仲實際，反正仲有甘多吉地。有幾多人會有興趣迪迪尼，梅窩，大澳同大佛全部去晒先得架?交通配套又差，點樣綁死D人去甘多度!

如果在東涌西起環球片場就吾錯。不過除非搞番掂迪迪尼，否則都很難過到立會呢關。

咪係！搞好D迪迪尼仲實際，反正仲有甘多吉地。有幾多人會有興趣迪迪尼，梅窩，大澳同大佛全部去晒先得架?交通配套又差，點樣綁死D人去甘多度!


邦死冇話唔得，要多過一日囉~


如果在東涌西起環球片場就吾錯。不過除非搞番掂迪迪尼，否則都很難過到立會呢關。

都起得，私人發展商自己出晒所有資金咪得囉。
不過環球啱啱先係新加坡開幕，上海又起緊，加埋東京本身，
點睇都唔會投資係香港起多個。

邦死冇話唔得，要多過一日囉~



都起得，私人發展商自己出晒所有資金咪得囉。
不過環球啱啱先係新加坡開幕，上海又起緊，加埋東京本身，
點睇都唔會投資係香港起多個。

上海好像是迪迪尼而已，不過香港近幾年真的沒有新的旅遊點。

You don't need to constantly build new tourist attractions. New York and London can thrive by promoting what they have, and tweak the focus into new themes to attract tourists. HK can do the same. Building and building is not always the best solution.

Lantau has enough to offer as a package for now. How many people actually realize that Tung Chung has a premium outlet mall? Better infrastructure is needed to connect various attractions on the island. In my opinion, Tung Chung is a good place to develop medical tourism, another feature that will broaden the appeal of the island. However, hospitals in Hong Kong do not see the potentials of Lantau at all .

內地人上水掃日用品
洗頭水廁紙平深圳三成


名牌手袋、化妝品和名錶一直被稱為內地客來港搶購的「老三件」，但近日內地客來港掃貨，已由貴價的老三件走向日常生活必需品，這全因內地物價飆升，加上人民幣升值，令香港不少日用品售價比內地便宜一大截，吸引大批珠三角居民每日像蝗蟲般從深圳湧來香港，其中上水更變身內地人購物天堂，非常熱鬧。

距離港鐵站只有五分鐘步程的上水龍琛路龍豐花園，附近有五、六間大型藥房，門口都堆起一棟棟的廁紙、洗頭水及各種護膚品，小小藥房便請了四、五名員工專門負責拆箱搬貨，連在門口執紙皮的阿嬸都忙個不停，店內則擠滿來掃貨的內地客排隊等待付款。

買高檔貨多會出市區


據藥房職員表示，早期藥油最受歡迎，其次是奶粉和紙尿片，現在連洗頭水、護膚品、消毒藥水和廁紙都成了搶手貨。「以前 100蚊港紙兌 107蚊人民幣，香港人就排隊過關返深圳吃喝玩樂；家人民幣 85蚊兌 100蚊港紙，即係買乜都打八五折」。該名職員說：「淨係滙水差價都賺咗先啦。」
記者將上水藥房的日用品價格，與深圳人人樂超級市場的貨品對比，發現兩者部份貨品的價錢竟相差一大截，例如沙宣護髮素深圳售 75.9人民幣（ 89.2港元），上水藥房賣 59港元，香港平三分一；一排五支裝的益力多，深圳賣 8.8人民幣（ 10.3港元），上水只賣 8元，相差 2.3元。其他如洗面奶或奶粉的價錢也可相差達三成之多（見表）。
據一些內地客表示，香港生果品種多且新鮮，價錢比內地便宜，特別是蘋果和提子比內地平六成以上，可惜生果被海關發現會沒收，因此只能偷偷帶小量。
上水一個大型商場的客戶服務部職員稱，內地人買高檔貨多會出市區，但日用品則在上水買，可免長途攜帶勞累；商場遂推出購物滿 400元送上水至皇崗口岸車票優惠，雖然只值 14.5元，但內地客心理上仍覺有着數，所以吸引不少客人在商場消費。

水貨客活躍絡繹不絕
內地通脹勁升，也養肥了水貨客。被形容為水客賓虛的港鐵上水站對開的彩園路，現時場面更墟冚，各路水客圍在一起拆包裝及分貨的檔位有數十個；水貨仍以奶粉為主流，其次是紙尿片、手機、紅酒，連高級凍肉也有。
由於水客太多，水客拉車仔排隊入港鐵站的場面鮮有間斷；一名水客透露，拖車仔的水客多是家庭主婦，帶日用品走一轉可賺 50元；男人則多帶電子產品或風險稍高的手機等，收入視乎數量而定，一般走一轉可賺 100元。



掃貨深圳客大讚平靚正

2010年11月15日


一卷廁紙，深圳賣 3.5元（港幣，下同），香港僅售 2.5元；深圳如今連洗頭水都賣得比香港貴，有深圳人說：「如果樣樣嘢喺深圳買，就吃力多了。」
深圳人李先生和太太、胞妹前日已是本月第二次來港掃日用品，這次主力買護膚品、牙膏及益力多，李先生粗略計算，同樣貨品若在深圳買起碼要多花 200元，他說：「除咗慳錢，最重要係啲貨質量有保證。」


「薯片一次買 10包」
李先生謂兩年前開始專程來港購買日用品，他說：「以前多數買護膚品、藥油；舊年開始連朱古力、餅乾、牙膏牙刷、鬚刨都過嚟買。」李先生續說：「日本出嘅巨浪大切薯片，深圳賣 23.3元，香港只賣 9.9元，相差 13元多，平時唔捨得買，但落香港一次就會買 10包。」
擁有深圳戶籍的成都人小王夫婦，半年前開始到上水掃日用品。小王謂以前是買奶粉給兒子，每次來港花 2,400元掃 12罐，一次可省近 480元；現時人民幣升值，每次掃貨更可慳達 600元，夠一家人一個月的米油鹽開支。




經常來港掃貨的內地客已成識途老馬，棄超市而到價格較便宜的上水藥房買嬰兒紙尿片及日用品。




深港部份日用品價格比較



沙宣護髮素（ 750毫升）
深圳超市　 75.9人民幣
香港超市　 69.9港元
上水藥房　 59港元




高露潔牙膏（ 250克）
深圳超市　 13.9人民幣
香港超市　 17.5港元
上水藥房　 13港元




DOVE沐浴露
深圳超市　 45.9人民幣
香港超市　 39.9港元
上水藥房　 35港元




維達 10卷裝廁紙
深圳超市　 29.9人民幣
香港超市　 25港元
上水藥房　/




金象米（ 5公斤）
深圳超市 59.8人民幣
香港超市 106港元（ 2包）
上水藥房

早幾年新界北居民會上深圳買餸同日用品，今時今日掉返轉深圳人落來北區買貨，真係風水輪流轉~

早幾年新界北居民會上深圳買餸同日用品，今時今日掉返轉深圳人落來北區買貨，真係風水輪流轉~

三十年河東，三十年河西。

Costs up for holiday tours
The Standard
Wednesday, November 17, 2010

The costs of Christmas tour packages have risen by at least 20 percent on average over last year, according to the Travel Industry Council.

Tours to Singapore and Malaysia have been hit the hardest, with gains of more than 30 percent.

Travel Industry Council executive director Joseph Tung Yiu-chung said the increases are mainly due to the fallout from US dollar weakness on the Hong Kong currency and new attractions.

"The casinos and Universal Studios in Singapore have boosted tour prices while hotels have also raised their charges," said Tung, adding that despite the increases, many people still plan on traveling during Christmas.

"Travelers are also fond of a white Christmas, so tours to Japan and Korea are already 70 percent full," he said.

Wing On Travel assistant general manager Simon Ma Sai-man said costs are up for tours to Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, Korea and Australia.

"Most Singapore packages have added Universal Studios to the itinerary. This adds at least HK$400 to the charges to cover the entrance fee."

On top of that, hotel charges are up by at least 10 percent.

But Ma said long-haul packages to Europe and Australia are at least 80 percent full.

But local malls are not going down without a fight for the holiday, and are predicting double-digit increases in patronage.

Sino Group retail marketing and promotions manager Irene So Kit-lin said its Olympian City is getting a HK$10 million spruce-up.

Visitors are expected to number 7.43 million in December, a 13 percent increase over last year.

"We are bringing in a 53-by-25-foot replica of the Taj Mahal to an indoor shopping center, using more than 360,000 mirror tiles," she said.

Sheung Shui's Landmark North hopes to attract at least 6.6 million visitors with its Japanese kaleidoscope-themed decoration.

Times Square is also going all out with Christmas decorations designed by well-known artist Michael Lau.

His Crazy X'mas show started yesterday and will run to Boxing Day.

神奇俠侶@「香港繽紛冬日節」(足本播放)

香港旅遊發展局首次以動畫短片宣傳香港不同地區和景點豐富的慶祝活動及節日氣氛。動畫短片以著名導演陳可辛先生監製的港產電影「*神奇俠侶」中的兩位主角--炯炯俠及香香俠遊香港為主題，並由創立Chocolate Rain品牌的本地設計師麥雅端繪圖。動畫中兩位主角於香港遊歷，欣賞璀燦的燈飾，又於主題公園飄雪下起舞及在佈置華麗的商場內*享受購物樂趣。「神奇俠侶」電影中分別飾演炯炯俠及香香俠的古天樂先生及吳君如小姐更親自為動畫配音。

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7uzkDiOptJY

今年的繽紛冬日節，由全球首屈一指著名切割水晶品牌Swarovski呈獻的水晶聖誕樹，帶您進入迷人的水晶世界。這棵高30米的聖誕樹由銀色和金色的菱形鏡面組成，並以超過2,000萬顆Swarovski水晶點綴，閃爍迷人。200多顆Swarovski 2010聖誕掛飾於每晚黃昏配合燈光匯演閃亮登場，加上聖誕樹前設置高達六米的噴泉，呈現令人讚嘆的精緻奇妙視覺效果。
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It's a blue Xmas for tours
The Standard
Monday, December 13, 2010

Tour operators in Hong Kong are facing a not-so-happy Christmas as tensions on the Korean peninsula and extreme cold in Europe take their toll on travel plans.

Agencies say their tours for Korea and Europe are only 80 percent full when they are usually booked out.

The drop indicates people will be staying in Hong Kong rather than spending Christmas overseas.

The Hong Kong Retail Management Association expects a 15 percent rise in gross sales to HK$34 billion this month. In October the figure was HK$27.8 billion, an increase of 22 percent from the same time last year.

Hong Thai Travel's deputy general manager Daniel Chan Kin-pang is one of the more optimistic.

He said the 80 percent bookings for Korea represent an improvement as an artillery attack by the North on a frontline island and subsequent military exercises and angry verbal exchanges scared travelers off holidays in the South.

Chan also believes snowstorms in Europe will not put people off. "The European long-haul tours to places like Paris and the United Kingdom are 80 percent full, keeping Hong Kong departures at two a day. Snowy weather is beyond human control, but travelers, worst comes to worst, will happily settle for a white Christmas," he said.

But Travel Industry Council executive director Joseph Tung Yao-chung said the sales growth for Christmas has dropped from an expected 20 percent to 10 percent.

"Travel agents had expected full bookings, but it is just 80 percent full," he said, hoping that "some people may still be keeping an eye on Korean developments before booking tours."

EGL Tours executive director Steve Huen Kwok-chuen said bookings are far behind expectations.

Meanwhile, a survey shows young men are stingier than women when it comes to Christmas gifts.

Youth group "D Dong" conducted a street poll of 754 males and 886 females, aged between 13 and 29, from November 10 to December 3 to find out how much they will spend to celebrate Christmas.

Nearly 76 percent said they will buy Christmas gifts but women appear to be more prepared than men to spend. The survey found 47 percent of men are budgeting less than HK$200, while 31 percent say they will not buy anything. Only 22 percent are prepared to spend more than HK$200.

Just 37 percent of the women say they are budgeting less than HK$200, with 18 percent not buying any gifts. However, 45 percent say they will spend more than HK$200.

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Tour price jumps fail to dent holiday hope
The Standard
Wednesday, January 05, 2011

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Outbound tours during the Lunar New Year will likely see a rise of 5 percent in both traveler numbers and revenue.

Travel Industry Council executive director Joseph Tung Yao-chung said more people are now prepared to travel despite up to 80-percent price hikes for some packages.

But tour agencies using cheaper airlines have been able to lower prices.

"Although packages for Taiwan are up several hundred dollars on average, it is still a popular place for Hongkongers," Tung said.

The cost of some packages for popular destinations like Bangkok and Singapore have dropped by 24 percent and 19 percent to HK$2,089 and HK$4,449, respectively.

"Regardless of new tourist attractions in Singapore, prices have dropped as more airlines are offering cheaper tickets," he said.

There has been an "obvious drop" in travelers to South Korea because of continuing tension in the area while Japan remains a popular destination despite an average increase of 5 percent on tour prices because of the rising yen.

Packages to the Thai seaside town of Phuket, however, have become much pricier at HK$5,299, from HK$2,899 last year - a hike of nearly 83 percent.

"This could be due to fewer low-cost carriers to Phuket," Tung said.

Hong Thai Travel expects business to be brisk over the next few weeks.

As of yesterday, bookings for Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand were 60 percent full. And trips to the Mediterranean are filling up fast while those to Vietnam are almost full.

Director and general manager Jason Wong Chun-tat said charges have gone up about 5 percent for groups and 10 percent for individual travel packages.

"The next two weeks will be the peak period for registrations and we believe the numbers will surpass last year's."

Wong said the agency has raised its Singapore tour package price tag from HK$6,799 last year to HK$8,999 but cut the 10-day Europe group tour cost from last year's minimum of HK$20,199 to HK$13,600 this time around.

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香港仔漁港被轟無特色 似普通公園 建議仿築地

【本報訊】港府擬動用二億八千八百萬元改善香港仔旅遊設施，以營造傳統漁港氣氛吸引旅客，但多名議員批評改善建議的項目開支龐大卻毫無特色，「同康文署公園無乜分別」，實屬雷聲大雨點小，提議當局倣效日本築地魚市場發展具特色的旅遊景點。有議員亦批評該區旅遊巴停泊位不足，未能配合旅遊發展。

立法會工務小組委員會昨討論香港仔旅遊發展項目撥款申請，款項用於設計及改善香港仔灣兩岸海濱長廊景觀，如改建觀景台、加設舢舨座椅等。議員李華明、甘乃威等批評項目欠特色。李華明說：「同康文署公園有咩分別！香港仔有海鮮批發市場優勢，點解唔學日本築地，擺魚生檔、串燒小食吸引遊客？」甘乃威則指：「好似普通地區美化工程，雷聲大雨點小，點說服立法會撥款？」

劉健儀則指該區旅遊巴僅可上落客，卻無停泊處，令旅客不便。商務及經濟發展局旅遊事務專員容偉雄指，項目旨在凸顯香港仔漁港氣息，美化海濱僅屬第一步，未來或研究與魚類統營處及業界合作，發展魚市場成旅遊景點，待二○一五年南港島線完工後，騰出的地盤空地或可作旅巴泊位或其他旅遊設施。

新海博館阻市民觀海景
另外，委員會亦討論香港海事博物館遷往中環八號碼頭的近億元撥款申請，甘乃威指八號碼頭現為公共空間，擔心海博館遷置後，市民難再免費欣賞維港美景。民政事務局首席助理秘書長賴黃淑嫻指，館內部分位置仍屬公共空間，玻璃外牆亦能讓市民觀賞海景。甘乃威亦要求成立委員會監管海博館的入場費加幅，海博館預計新館成人入場費為三十元，較現時貴十元。工務小組最後通過上述兩項目，將撥款申請交予財務委員會審議。

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大增新景點 港旅客料增一成

旅發局辦破世績綵燈會 戶外溜冰場

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【明報專訊】海洋公園與迪士尼樂園今年都會有新設施建成，旅遊發展局亦會在3個傳統大型活動加入盛事，包括於中秋舉辦大型綵燈會、聖誕搞戶外真雪溜冰場及明年新春的千人盆菜宴等，並力谷中東、俄羅斯、印度、荷蘭及越南等新興市場，預期全年訪港旅客增長一成，達3900萬人次，粗略推算可為香港帶來1800億元收入。



旅發局主席田北俊表示，預期2011年訪港旅客將錄得一成增長，逾3900萬人次，當中內地客升幅逾12％，達2541萬，其餘短途、長途及過夜旅客人均消費亦會錄得增長。以去年（截至11月）統計推算，過夜與非過夜旅客分別佔55％及45％，兩者在港平均消費約7200及1900元，今年外地旅客可為香港帶來1800億元，估計逾半來自內地同胞。


旅發局今年繼續以「亞洲國際都會」為推廣重點，並將在3項大型盛事加入新元素，包括9月舉行的中秋綵燈慶全城，將在維園舉行打破健力士紀錄的大型綵燈活動，11至12月舉行的繽紛冬日節亦會辦聖誕小鎮及戶外真雪溜冰場，明年新春除舉行花車巡遊，亦計劃舉辦千人盆菜宴。除上述盛事，兩大主題樂園今年都會有新景點建成，其他景點如天際100等亦會開幕。該局總幹事劉鎮漢希望可藉此延長旅客在港逗留時間。


力谷新興市場越南荷蘭


該局今年建議推廣預算總額為3.4億元，未包人工等固定成本，當中會增撥資源投放在5個新興市場，除近年已力谷的中東、俄羅斯及印度外，亦會新增越南及荷蘭兩國。田北俊解釋，越南經濟增長迅速，來往香港與越南及荷蘭的航班亦有不少。他又說，會加強數碼媒體推廣，今年第2季會利用「擴增實境」（Augmented Reality）影像技術，推出iPhone、Android手機的應用程式，用家只要利用鏡頭對準景點、建築物或食肆等，屏幕上便會有文字介紹。

Good for them, bad for us ...

Weak HK dollar brings strong tourism return
The Standard
Wednesday, January 19, 2011

The weaker Hong Kong dollar encouraged more visitors from the mainland and other Asian markets last year, Tourism Board chairman James Tien Pei- chun said yesterday.

According to the board, the number of visitors increased by 22 percent to 36 million with each tourist spending an average of HK$6,705, an increase of 16.2 percent on 2009.

Expenditure related to inbound tourism contributed HK$212.6 billion to the economy, a rise of 30.5 percent.

Tien said Hong Kong will continue to be a desired tourist destination and that the number of visitors in 2011 could increase to 39 million.

The mainland remains Hong Kong's largest source of tourists, according to a report to be presented to the Legislative Council's economic development panel next week.

The board says mainland visitors constitute 60 percent of all travelers to Hong Kong.

Arrivals from the mainland in 2010 increased by 26.3 percent compared with the previous year.

The report also shows that visitors from other Asian markets such as Taiwan, Japan and South Korea increased by 7.7 percent, 9.3 percent and 40 percent, respectively.

Tien said the strengthening of the yuan and other Asian currencies against the US dollar played a major role in making Hong Kong a top destination.

For the Taiwan market, the report said more promotions were conducted last year to fill empty seats on Hong Kong-Taiwan flights following the increased number of cross-strait direct flights between Taipei and the mainland.

Tien declined to reveal the subsidy amount to be allocated to the tourism body for this year, saying it has yet to be approved by the government.

However, a spokeswoman said later the budget for 2011-2012 is expected to be slightly higher than the HK$501 million the board received for 2010-2011.

During yesterday's press conference, Tien said one of the board's priorities will be to invest funds to explore potential new markets such as Vietnam and the Netherlands.

Tien also said in view of the construction of the Kai Tak cruise terminal, the board will endeavor to generate demand for cruises by partnering with cruise operators and travel agencies.

More effort will also be made to include Hong Kong in television shows overseas as part of the board's publicity program. Last year, Hong Kong was featured in a number of reality shows in South Korea and the United States.

The board also plans an overhaul for its discoverhongkong.com website.

Tien added that another way to attract more tourists is to promote Hong Kong festivals. A lantern festival will be held in September for the Mid- Autumn Festival while events will also be held in conjunction with other Chinese festivals.

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TABLE-HK Dec visitor arrivals up 15.7 pct yr/yr

Jan 26 (Reuters) - Visitor arrivals to Hong Kong in December increased by 15.7 percent from a year earlier to 3.54 million, data from the Hong Kong Tourism Board showed on Wednesday.

Visitor arrivals for the whole of 2010 reached a historic high of 36.03 million, up 21.8 percent from 2009. About 63 percent of total visitor arrivals, or 22.68 million, came from mainland China, up 26.3 percent from 2009.

The growth was led by a number of factors, including steady growth of the global economy, appreciation of most currencies against the Hong Kong dollar, as well as the expansion of the scope of the Individual Visit Scheme for Shenzhen residents by the Central Government, the Tourism Board said in a statement.

It added the total tourism expenditure associated to inbound tourism, which amounted to HK$212.6 billion ($27.26 billion) on a provisional basis, 30.5 percent higher than the 2009 figure.

Visitor arrivals: (pct change yr/yr):

Dec Nov Oct Sept Aug July June
15.7 17.1 18.0 21.2 21.9 31.9 43.5

Following is a summary of visitor arrivals by Country/Territory in December.

No. of % Growth
Country/Territory Arrivals Year/Year
Mainland China 2,275,188 +23.1
South & Southeast Asia 399,478 + 6.4
Europe, Africa & The Middle East 165,693 + 4.1
The Americas 138,513 + 3.8
North Asia 210,382 +12.3
Taiwan 189,328 + 0.7
Australia, New Zealand & 70,201 + 1.6
South Pacific
Macau 94,671 - 6.6

夢幻水都新登場 難掩旅業現疲態


萬眾矚目的海洋公園夢幻水都今日閃亮登場，為遊客帶來與海洋親密接觸的震撼體驗，遊人可徜徉置身深海的海洋奇觀，可欣賞全球獨一無二的三百六十度環迴水幕上進行的煙火表演，更可在四千多條魚兒的陪伴下盡享美食。毋庸置疑，夢幻水都為已經徐娘半老的海洋公園增添了活力，再配合延長營業時間，園方估計可帶動整體入場人數上升一成半。

海洋公園一直是本港旅遊業的支柱之一，開業三十多年來已吸引近億人次的遊客前來觀光。然而，歲月如刀，海洋公園近年已呈現疲態，再加上迪士尼樂園的競爭，有後勁不繼之感。數字最能說明問題，去年，訪港遊客數量達三千六百萬之眾，增加二成二；迪士尼樂園遊客五百二十三萬，增長約二成；海洋公園遊客五百四十萬，增長不足一成，可見其吸引力已大不如前。

逆水行舟，不進則退。海洋公園近年作出了不少努力，早前引入全新機動遊戲翻天覆地，適合追求驚險刺激的年輕一族，現在又推出夢幻水都，借助高科技手段展現如夢如幻的海底世界，老少咸宜。接下來，海洋公園還有不少新景點揭幕，如熱帶雨林、動感天地等，都會為遊客帶來全新體驗與刺激。根據有關規劃，幾年後海洋公園的景點將由現時的三十五個擴大一倍，達到七十個，屆時老牌海洋公園將面目一新，重新煥發青春。

海洋公園面對求新求變的壓力，其實是本港旅遊業美人遲暮的縮影。十多年來，由於港府坐井觀天，不思進取，以致旅遊基建乏善足陳，除了一個袖珍型的迪士尼樂園，就是一個時停時開的昂坪纜車而已，其他基建大計都是坐而論道，一拖再拖，如啟德郵輪碼頭才開始動工，西九文化區還是一片野草萋萋的荒地，漁人碼頭更是胎死腹中。正如不少遊客指出，第一次到香港還覺得新鮮，第二次便有無處可去之感，今後不想再來了。可以說，縱然海洋公園及迪士尼樂園使出渾身解數，不斷擴大景區，增加新玩意，但仍然掩蓋不住本港整體上景點稀少兼老舊、老氣橫秋的不堪。

反觀周邊地區，莫不將旅遊業作為支柱產業來發展，大型基建如雨後春筍般不斷冒起。新加坡的名勝世界規模宏大，集吃喝玩樂於一身，開業後客如潮湧，第一年就吸引逾千萬遊客；南韓重拾環球影城大計，落成後將對遊客產生巨大的吸引力；椰影婆娑、水清沙幼的海南島已被定位為國際旅遊休閒島，早前又推出購物免稅措施吸客，對香港的購物天堂地位構成威脅；被視為香港頭號勁敵的上海更加雄心勃勃，該市計劃在未來五年內打造以迪士尼樂園為核心的國際級旅遊區。毗鄰的澳門發展更是一日千里，城市面貌日新月異，令人驚嘆。還有，廣東番禺的長隆樂園去年接待一千二百萬遊客，比本港兩大主題公園遊客的總和還要多，怎不令港人汗顏。

變化才是永恒，時代在變，遊客的要求在變，旅遊業不能不與時俱進，求新求變。相比競爭對手在發展旅遊業方面的大氣魄、大手筆，投資僅五十五億元的海洋公園夢幻水都，只不過是零敲碎打而已，若僅僅指望以兩大主題公園變新來彌補本港景點嚴重不足的缺陷，顯然是不現實的。

有人說，中國內地有十三億人，只要每人來香港一次，香港想不發達都難。不錯，目前內地遊客已佔本港旅遊業大半壁江山，隨着愈來愈多國人出境旅遊，香港旅業坐享近水樓台之利，大有可為，問題在於，香港憑甚麼將他們都吸引過來呢？港府甚麼時候才能從「並非膚淺」的夢幻中醒來呢？

Exodus
The Standard
Monday, January 31, 2011

Don't go ... Get out ... Hong Kong raised its travel alert to Egypt to black yesterday as foreign tourists scrambled to get out of he violence-racked country.

Hong Kong holidaymakers still in Egypt - about 200 visitors from 10 tour groups - have been told to avoid protests and large gatherings. People should avoid all travel to Egypt.

China and Australia told their citizens not to go there, and Tokyo appealed for help for 500 Japanese stranded at Cairo airport.

The exodus from the Nile holiday hotspot came as Egyptian fighter jets flew repeat low-altitude sorties over the unruly mobs in Cairo, deafening the protest-hit city in a show of strength by the all-powerful military. More than 100 have been killed in the street rallies.

The Hong Kong government has raised the travel warning for Egypt to the highest black level.

The Security Bureau issued an SMS over mobile phones to Hong Kong people in Egypt to remind them of the danger. But a spokesman said it did not see the need to send charter flights to bring citizens home.

"The operation of the airport in Cairo has not been affected. Visitors may leave the country by taking connecting flights to Singapore, Dubai and Doha," he said.

Travel Industry Council executive director Joseph Tung Yao-chung said he called on the government to ramp up the Outbound Travel Alert on Saturday because of the unrest as a red alert can be confusing for travel agencies to adjust plans.

The black alert came after a red alert - a sign of "significant threat" - for Egypt was issued on Saturday.

Under that level, travel agencies can choose to continue the holiday itinerary of their tours as they are only advised to adjust travel plans.

Hong Thai Travel decided to evacuate a 47-member tour in Egypt only after the black signal for a "severe threat" was hoisted in the evening. General manager Jason Wong Chun-tat said: "If we had been informed about the seriousness of the threat earlier, we could have made more appropriate arrangement to evacuate the large group of visitors."

A meeting with travel agencies will be held this morning to discuss the compensation arrangement for 70 groups, comprising more than 2,000 people, who are scheduled to leave for Egypt during the Lunar New Year holidays. Tour fees involved are estimated to be HK$35 million.

The TIC earlier decided to scrap all tours involving 500 people to Egypt that had been scheduled to depart before noon tomorrow.

The spokesman for the Security Bureau denied it was late and said it has been monitoring the situation and conducting risk evaluation to update the alert.Several Hong Kong tour groups have already been rushing back home after an amber alert was issued on Friday.

Fourteen members of an EGL Tours travel group arrived in Hong Kong from Cairo yesterday after its tour leader decided to fly out again on the day of arrival.

A tour member, surnamed Law, recalled their experience in Cairo: "I heard gunshots from a distance and saw protests around the town. Our tour leader changed the accommodation immediately and we stayed in a hotel in the suburb before taking the flight back."

Executive director Steve Huen Kwok-chuen picked up his clients at the Hong Kong airport and said travellers who purchased their travel insurance package would get riots compensation capped at HK$30,000.

He would help those who had not bought insurance to minimize the loss in the unexpected return.

The general manager of Wing On Travel Agency, Jo Jo Chan Shuk-fong, said one of its three tours totalling 65 members were stranded at Cairo airport on Friday after a curfew was imposed in the city.

She said after the group arrives home today members will get a full refund and compensation of HK$1,000. The remaining two groups are safe in the south of the country and will fly back as soon as possible.

Australia called for calm and restraint, and the foreign office upgraded its travel warning from "reconsider your need to travel" to "do not travel."

Prime Minister Julia Gillard said 870 Australians are registered as staying in Egypt but given its popularity as a tourist destination said the real number is "likely to be in the thousands."

She told anyone who could safely leave to strongly consider doing so, condemning violence on both sides.

Australia's foreign office said the situation "remains unpredictable and may deteriorate quickly" and urged travellers to avoid demonstrations.

"The army is on the streets of the main towns and there are widespread reports of arson and looting. The civil police are not present to maintain law and order," the foreign office said, adding that travellers should respect a curfew.

China's embassy in Cairo said the foreign ministry in Beijing issued a "red" warning yesterday, "requiring all Chinese citizens not to travel to Egypt."

It urged Chinese nationals in Egypt to be careful of their safety and not to not to go outside unless necessary, adding that 300 Chinese nationals had been stranded due to cancelled flights.

Taipei's tourism bureau said 410 Taiwanese tourists are in Egypt.

機場旅客中心變身 iPad潮撐香港

http://news.mingpao.com/20110207/gc__07GC003_.jpg


【明報專訊】每年接觸逾1000萬客人的兩個旅遊發展局機場抵港層禁區諮詢中心，趁新年換上新裝潢，接待員除換上牛仔褲、Converse布鞋等一身休閒服，更引入iPad為旅客指點迷津。旅發局總幹事劉鎮漢說，換新裝不僅是希望展示香港時尚一面，更有效減少三成紙張。


開放式設計 接待員四圍走


旅發局總幹事劉鎮漢接受本報專訪時說，以往旅客諮詢中心，均是由接待員坐在櫃內，望電腦熒幕回答旅客問題，但新的中心用了開放式概念，只放了2張高腳，拿iPad的接待員可自由走動，跟旅客接觸。


他說，接待員亦換新服飾，上身是名設計師施熙瑜縫製的黑色西裝褸，再配T恤，下身則是牛仔褲及Converse輕便鞋，不用再穿傳統制服。配合諮詢中心的新裝修，新面貌不僅予旅客時尚、先進感覺，配合香港形象，而且用iPad可圖文並茂向旅客展示資料，有需要才打印出來，節省紙張。


目前有三成訪港旅客會於機場抵港，而機場內的諮詢中心每年接待逾1000萬客。其中一名中心接待員Miki說，旅客看到他們拿iPad都覺得新奇，且更可利用iPad內的程式向旅客解釋。她表示，旅客一般會向他們查問行程編排，故可利用該局的「720度Virtual Tour」介紹景點，又可以用天文台app告知天氣及分區實景狀等，而且近年多了俄羅斯旅客來港，更可以利用iLanguage翻譯程式與他們溝通。


減三分一派紙量


她又說，iPad有助推動無紙化，中心擺放的資料較以往減少一半，實際派發量亦少三分之一，「旅客最常問機場平面圖等，都可以用iPad展示，他們真的需要資料時，才打印給他們」。


旅發局現時共設有4個旅客諮詢中心，除機場的中心換新裝外，山頂的諮詢中心早年已由纜車車廂改裝而成，劉鎮漢透露，旅客使用率甚高的尖沙嘴及羅湖諮詢中心，稍後亦會陸續加添新元素，但暫未有定案，而且亦要靠尋找更多贊助，節省其他活動支出，以用作改裝這些旅客諮詢中心。

http://news.mingpao.com/20110210/ga_10ga402.gif

新春內地客升15％創新高 港吸金逾30億

【明報專訊】農曆新年期間，雖然本港爆出「翻版阿珍」事件，但無礙內地訪客再創新高，本月2日至8日期間，內地訪港旅客達66.3萬人次，較去年同期升15.7％，其中2月7日（年初五）創下單日新高，有近11.8萬人次訪港。以去年有55.7％旅客在港過夜、每名過夜旅客平均花6705元，而不過夜花1884元計算，估計新春期間，這批內地旅客為港帶來逾30億元的經濟效益。


新春來港的內地旅客中，以個人遊簽注及旅行團方式最多，佔整體82％，其餘則持商務或探親簽注訪港。當中，自由行佔整體67％，即共44.6萬人次，比去年增加18.2％。當中約兩成為採用「一簽多行」簽注訪港的深圳居民，較去年大幅增加48.9％。參加旅行團來港的內地旅客則共9.6萬人次，佔整體數字15％，比去年上升16.9％。


港農曆新年列全球十大節日


旅發局主席田北俊表示，最近國際媒體《福布斯》將香港農曆新年列為全球十大節日活動之一，該局會把握機會繼續宣傳香港，鞏固香港的旅遊形象。但另方面，他希望政府藉全面檢討旅遊業架構，盡快落實成立法定機構，以立法方式監管旅遊業，糾正現時部分內地團接待旅行社的不良經營方式。

`Bully' tourist rush feared
10 February 2011
The Standard

Tour operators and guides are worried that cash compensation paid to a mainland couple involved in a brawl with a Hong Kong guide may serve as an invitation to ``bully travelers.''

Tourism sector legislator Paul Tse Wai-chun said yesterday that compensation was paid to Zhang Yong and wife Chai Huafang, who along with tour guide Lam Yu-yung were bound over by a Kowloon City magistrate on Monday when a charge of fighting in public was dropped.

All the legal costs arising from the dispute were also paid by travel agent Good Friendship. But Tse would not comment on reports the cash payout amounted to HK$120,000.

The couple originally accused the tour guide of forcing them to shop and causing the fracas, but Zhang later said the matter was all a misunderstanding.

Tse said that paying tourists to settle disputes may not set a good precedent and may inspire copycats. In fact, ``bully travelers'' is now jargon among tour operators to describe those who create disputes that lead to compensation.

If the reported payout figure is on the mark, the Zhangs collected around 14 times more than the HK$8,500 they paid for their Hong Kong trip.

The chairman of the Hong Kong Tour Guides General Union, Wong Ka-ngai, also said compensation may encourage tourists to make complaints.

The chairman of the Hong Kong Inbound Tour Operators Association, Simon Hau Suk-kei, said that tour guide Lam, who has gastric cancer, suffered immense pressure after being accused of forcing tourists to shop. He also quoted Lam as saying she did not start the fight.

Travel Industry Council chairman Michael Wu Siu-ieng said yesterday that paying off the Zhangs was purely a commercial decision.

Meanwhile, the council conducted spot checks in Sheung Wan and Tsim Sha Tsui on tour groups yesterday but no major irregularities were found.

The developments came a day after a Taiwan tour guide was hurt in a clash between two groups of mainland visitors.

The brawl started when groups from Fujian and Shanxi scrambled to squeeze onto a train at Ali Mountain. The guide was hit on the head by a tossed bottle.

`Bully' tourist rush feared
10 February 2011
The Standard

Tour operators and guides are worried that cash compensation paid to a mainland couple involved in a brawl with a Hong Kong guide may serve as an invitation to ``bully travelers.''

Tourism sector legislator Paul Tse Wai-chun said yesterday that compensation was paid to Zhang Yong and wife Chai Huafang, who along with tour guide Lam Yu-yung were bound over by a Kowloon City magistrate on Monday when a charge of fighting in public was dropped.

All the legal costs arising from the dispute were also paid by travel agent Good Friendship. But Tse would not comment on reports the cash payout amounted to HK$120,000.

The couple originally accused the tour guide of forcing them to shop and causing the fracas, but Zhang later said the matter was all a misunderstanding.

Tse said that paying tourists to settle disputes may not set a good precedent and may inspire copycats. In fact, ``bully travelers'' is now jargon among tour operators to describe those who create disputes that lead to compensation.

If the reported payout figure is on the mark, the Zhangs collected around 14 times more than the HK$8,500 they paid for their Hong Kong trip.

The chairman of the Hong Kong Tour Guides General Union, Wong Ka-ngai, also said compensation may encourage tourists to make complaints.

The chairman of the Hong Kong Inbound Tour Operators Association, Simon Hau Suk-kei, said that tour guide Lam, who has gastric cancer, suffered immense pressure after being accused of forcing tourists to shop. He also quoted Lam as saying she did not start the fight.

Travel Industry Council chairman Michael Wu Siu-ieng said yesterday that paying off the Zhangs was purely a commercial decision.

Meanwhile, the council conducted spot checks in Sheung Wan and Tsim Sha Tsui on tour groups yesterday but no major irregularities were found.

The developments came a day after a Taiwan tour guide was hurt in a clash between two groups of mainland visitors.

The brawl started when groups from Fujian and Shanxi scrambled to squeeze onto a train at Ali Mountain. The guide was hit on the head by a tossed bottle.

Sucks. What a shame it happened!!!

推飛鵝山夜景團吸日本客

亞洲短途市場增長21% 旅發局加強發功

http://news.mingpao.com/20110217/go__17gr401.jpg
【明報專訊】現時訪港旅客以內地為主，原來去年亞洲短途市場亦有21％增長，旅發局今年會繼續加強在這些市場推廣，並以奇招吸客。以日本市場為例，多數日本人已來港多次，但他們偏愛香港夜景，故下月會首推夜景團，安排他們看最美的飛鵝山夜景，後日的馬拉松賽事亦吸引了逾600名日本人來港；至於印度和韓國市場，旅發局則以名人效應招徠。


去年訪港的亞洲旅客逾350萬人次，旅發局估計今年會繼續向好，估計會有8％至9％增長，主要是亞洲經濟形勢好，以及匯率普遍升值，來往香港航班亦有增加。即使是已非常成熟的日本市場亦不例外，旅發局區域幹事（北亞）加納國雄說，去年訪港日本過夜度假旅客中，44％已非首次來港，當中36％已來港6次或以上，來港2至3次的亦有54％，普遍以50至60歲旅客為主，多參加旅行團。


日本有調查發現，當地人認為香港夜景是世界最美，針對這特點，旅發局下月會跟業界推出夜景點，來港看看獲日本人選為全球最美夜景的飛鵝山和青馬大橋。加納國雄又說，稍後會以本港各種盛事招徠，如周日舉行的馬拉松，今年便吸引了610名日人來港參賽，較去年增加56％，估計龍舟嘉年華亦可吸引500人來港。


邀韓版《超級巨聲》來港攝製


至於近年冒起的印度市場會大打名人效應，旅發局區域幹事（南亞及東南亞）梁家泰說，計劃邀請當地獲《時代》雜誌選為全球百大影響力作家Chetan Bhagat協助宣傳香港，除了因為他是暢銷作家，更因他曾在香港的高盛打工10年，對香港有一定了解，另方面亦計劃在當地舉辦糅合中國及印度菜風味的烹飪比賽，藉機推介本港的美酒佳餚活動。


以年輕旅客為主的韓國市場，亦會採取類似推廣策略，旅發局韓國辦事處幹事權容集說，正計劃與當地電視台等合作，邀請人氣偶像如Super Junior、Seven等介紹香港特色，或邀請在當地大受歡迎的韓版《超級巨聲》節目於冬季來港攝製，藉此吸引當地年輕人來港感受聖誕氣氛。

Definitely agreed, Fei Ngo Shan's view definitely surpasses what the Victoria Peak has to offer. Thousands of high rises, all in a single view.

Coincidentally I am just using this picture as my desktop wallpaper ;)
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4133/4834160924_606175f5de_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/move_lachine/4834160924/)
Hong Kong #62-#63 -drumscan (http://www.flickr.com/photos/move_lachine/4834160924/) by Thomas Birke (http://www.flickr.com/people/move_lachine/), on Flickr

So it's not just locals who know of that great spot anymore!

Fei Ngo Shan is just not as accessible as the Peak does without private transportation. It indeed offers a different view of the City.

Definitely agreed, Fei Ngo Shan's view definitely surpasses what the Victoria Peak has to offer. Thousands of high rises, all in a single view.

Coincidentally I am just using this picture as my desktop wallpaper ;)
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4133/4834160924_606175f5de_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/move_lachine/4834160924/)
Hong Kong #62-#63 -drumscan (http://www.flickr.com/photos/move_lachine/4834160924/) by Thomas Birke (http://www.flickr.com/people/move_lachine/), on Flickr

I think the view from Fei Ngor Shan would be more stunning once all the development projects of Kai Tak Development Zone are completed.

Tien fires legal warning at payoff-seeking copycats
17 February 2011
The Standard

The Tourism Board is putting its foot down: visitors who cause trouble are going to court.

Chairman James Tien Pei-chun said under no circumstances should travel agencies offer compensation as this only encourages copycats.

``Definitely, we should not mislead tourists into thinking that if they join tours to Hong Kong and deliberately get into an argument with a tour guide or operator, they will get paid, because that is not the case,'' Tien said.

``It should be up to the court to analyze individual cases and decide who is right.''

His comment follows a string of incidents involving mainland tourists and tour guides in Hong Kong and Macau.

On February 5, a couple from Anhui and their tour guide were arrested by police and charged with fighting in a public place.

However, to avoid further negative publicity, the agency decided to settle the matter out of court, compensating the couple with an undisclosed sum.

Many from the industry believe that copycats are now surfacing because of the incident, which was highly publicized by mainland network CCTV.

Earlier this week in Macau, a group of mainland tourists was involved in a five-hour standoff with about 100 tour guides.

It resulted after three of the visitors allegedly punched and kicked one of the guides.

Macau Tourist Guide Association president Angelina Wu Wai-fong told an RTHK phone-in program that the Hong Kong payoff gave mainland tourists a golden ticket to behave badly.

``We are afraid that after the incident, the tourists will think that there is money to be picked up everywhere,'' she said.

Tien said similar episodes can be avoided through properly marketed tours.

But he also called on mainland tourists to be fair in their expectations and not to ask for too much, especially if they are on budget tours.

``Most of the Hong Kong incidents involve tourists from Anhui province. That's because our Quality Hong Kong campaign has been very well-publicized and accepted in places like Beijing and Shanghai,'' Tien said.

``By promoting the same thing in other parts of the mainland, I believe that we will be able to prevent such events from happening again.''

導遊吐苦水　鄉鎮旅客氣燄日盛：「冇大陸　香港食屎喇」


【本報訊】「香港如果沒有大陸，你們香港吃屎喇！」這是接待內地來港旅行團的導遊，近年不時被客人指着鼻子罵的說話。對於港澳兩地接連發生導遊與內地旅客爭執，甚至有旅客向導遊動粗，有香港導遊指內地旅客氣燄日盛，皆因他們都認為：「香港經濟不景，香港政府甚麼都要靠大陸；我們來旅行，是來幫你們呀！」記者：陳達浩　黃偉民　翁煜雄

在港從事接待內地旅行團多年的女導遊「阿靜」，昨日得知有記者與「新聞人物」拍檔林如蓉一起，剛巧她正在附近帶團往購物，立即趁空檔時間趕來向記者大吐苦水。她慨嘆內地團越來越難帶，「以前啲內地客好好多，因為當年佢哋剛剛富起來，唔熟悉香港，出嚟玩好開心，好守規矩。」即使是近年，大城市如上海和北京的旅客都比較易帶，「因為佢哋見過世面，識規矩，知道要跟行程同俾小費。」

「想似張勇咁博賠錢」
不過，近年情況出現了大變化，特別是一些來自較偏遠城市的旅客，阿靜形容他們都是「大老粗」。這些旅客的心態是，香港近年經濟不景，香港政府甚麼都靠大陸，他們會以主人公身份自居，認為「我們來旅行是來幫你們呀」。阿靜更說：「你去金紫荊（廣場）或者港澳碼頭，都不難見到遊客指住導遊個鼻大罵嘅場面。」阿靜稱，他們罵的都差不多是同一句話：「香港如果沒有大陸，你們香港吃屎喇！」香港導遊總工會理事長黃嘉毅亦表示，部份內地客的確頗「野蠻」。他說，有導遊昨日到工會哭訴，一批內地客在皇崗因不滿要排隊入境，群起當眾痛罵導遊，「尤其係最近嗰件事之後，小部份旅客仲成日挑釁導遊，都係想好似張勇咁博賠錢吖嘛。」他說，部份內地客常以「賠錢」作解決方法，「有時司機遲到兩、三分鐘，佢哋又話要賠一千蚊。」有導遊稱，曾有內地旅客指在某主題公園「玩得唔夠盡興」，要求入場費「回水」；有人因為司機為他搬運「老婆餅」時「整到碎咗少少」，都要求賠償數百元。黃嘉毅又說，旅遊業議會也有份縱容「旅霸」，因議會每收到旅客投訴，總認為是導遊過失，一旦確實判導遊犯規，導遊欲上訴，便需付 1,000元保證金。「要上訴成功先攞得番，我哋賺錢唔易，有時費事俾人投訴，冇錯都認咗錯先 o架。」

內地客鬧事越來越多
入境團旅行社協會主席侯叔祺表示，內地客鬧事新聞越來越多，相信是因為內地旅遊市場日益開放，更多偏遠城市居民來港。「有啲可能都係第一次出遠門」，由於文化差異，這些旅客往往對「排隊」、「公眾場合不可喧鬧」等要求不太習慣，「佢哋認為自己大聲唔代表冇禮貌」。不過，他不排除部份內地客刻意刁難，企圖搵着數。旅遊業議會主席胡兆英則否認處理投訴時，都會「當導遊、旅行社唔啱」，又說會公平處理，而且每年也有不少投訴裁定為不成立。他說：「我哋管理旅行社、導遊之餘，都會保障佢哋權益同尊嚴。」

香港豈容「李剛」子姪橫行


2011年02月21日

《讓子彈飛》民國八年八月，暗無天日的鵝城，凉粉舖小夥計被人打得皮開肉綻，卻要向行兇者跪地磕頭賠不是；辛卯兔年正月初五，河南伊川縣城，矢意擺脫蠻纏的少女被人打得血流披面，卻要向行兇者簽下巨額欠單。

有天理嗎？沒有。憤怒嗎？麻木了。因為，行兇者來自虛擬和現實的「鵝城」，前者是「李剛」的祖師爺─團練教頭，後者為「李剛」的兄弟──公安交警。

伊川案前兩天赤口日，香港爆發蓉勇「互毆」事件，儘管央視瞬即以「辱罵毆打遊客」、「令香港蒙羞」定了性，但市民無不疑竇重重：消費團導遊落力促購、未能如願毒舌譏諷都可能，但真敢冒「公眾地方打架」刑事罪動手？尤其是在阿珍出事後？此其一。其二則來自常識的判斷，一個纖弱南國女子，有膽向比她高一截的北方壯漢健婦挑戰？

惡客百般刁難另有所圖
兩天後「受害」遊客忽改口「誤會消除、滿意服務」。接下來的新聞，尤其是九日、十二日兩篇《蘋論》，港人辨清了奸人詐財的處心積慮，紛紛聲討「喪權辱區」的業界，對於阿蓉，在「安徽人打福建人不關港人事」凉薄心態下漸已淡忘。


周六《蘋果》頭條兩大版「阿蓉大控訴」振聾發聵，仗義執言的同時，那一道兩周後猶存的四吋血痕，傳出一聲炸雷：香港人，「李剛」殺到了。
百般刁難、百般羞辱，阿蓉方回一句嘴，男揮拳女揪髮小姨施鷹爪……開口「我叔我姑做司法」，閉口「我能在深圳弄死你」……好一群恐怖「李剛」人辦。

追蹤報道爆出惡客原是內地法院衙卒。證實了李怡先生灼見，「平日霸道慣了」，問題是，為何他敢於跨境霸道？


回歸後特別是實施 CEPA、自由行後，中央、港府、內地媒體、本港「媚體」，反覆渲染「送大禮」話題，大陸民眾，尤其是近年陸續上位的六零後、七零後小官，在本土橫行慣了，且篤信「沒有大陸香港食屎」。他們不懂或不想懂，包括歐美客全部旅遊產值，僅佔港 GDP不足百分之三，於是面對「被拯救」的港人，內地養成的驕橫加倍釋放。

上下團結捍衞人權尊嚴
以前這種狂妄只表現在語言態度上，今次業界軟骨，巨資「褒獎」惡客，勢必令無數欲效尤者怦然心動。願阿蓉的血淚控訴喚醒大家：董耀中等切勿一聽北京電話便唯唯諾諾，而應全面彙報雙方責任；旅業東主敬請棄絕低費團，再有惡客尋釁應理直氣壯報警送官；導遊同仁團結一心，勇敢捍衞自身人權尊嚴。
惟如此，我們方可正告蠢蠢欲動的「李剛」子姪們：二○四七年還沒到，法制香港不是你們腳下的「鵝城」！香港決不容許你們橫行霸道！如若不信不妨一試，等待你們的，是「傷人」、「恐嚇」、「敲詐」、「妨害司法公正」的重罪控訴。

That's one thing about having CEPA in the first place. Nothing much we could do about it. We either accept them or we don't.

紛紛湧港日企包酒店數百房



【本報綜合報道】日本核危機升級，多間跨國機構駐守當地的外籍員工紛紛撤退至香港、台灣及新加坡等地。香港酒店業人士指出，多間四、五星酒店過去一星期接獲大量查詢，有企業要求包下數百間房供駐日員工來港暫住。另外不少居港的日本僑民亦在危急關頭，向來港避難的親朋戚友提供住宿，共度時艱。

香港酒店業主聯會執行總幹事李漢城說，本港酒店三月份入住率本來已達八成多，但過去一星期以來，多間酒店再接到日本公司的訂房查詢，要求包下數十間至數百間房，供駐守日本的外籍員工來港暫住，至少逗留兩、三星期。他透露，訂房的多數是金融、&