Hong Kong Announces Positive Tourism Projections

NEW YORK—Travel Agent was on site last week as the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) hosted a Chinese New Year's dinner, recapping a successful 2006 year in tourism and offering predictions for this year. The HKTB's Chinese New Year's dinner

HKTB officials say total visitor arrivals will reach 26.4 million in 2007, a rise of 4.6 percent over last year. This figure is consistent with the World Tourism Organization's forecast that global tourism will increase by about 4 percent in 2007, and is based on performance trends in different source markets, as well as economic and political conditions. 

Ngong Ping 360 is partially credited for the city's increased tourismOverall visitor arrivals to Hong Kong in 2006 stand at 25 million, an 8.1 percent increase from 2005. (The Americas recorded 1.6 million visitors in 2006, a 4.2 percent increase from 2005. The U.S. made up 1.1 million of those tourists, a moderate 1.4 percent increase from 2005.) The impressive year was attributed to a successful year-long "2006 Discover Hong Kong Year" marketing campaign during which the city introduced several new attractions, including Hong Kong Wetland Park, which features more than 60 hectares of recreated wetlands on the northeastern edge of the scenic Tin Shui Wai territory, and Ngong Ping 360, which combines a 5.7-kilometer cable car journey with a themed village. The campaign, which was aimed at getting tourists to "rediscover" the city, also featured a re-introduction of Hong Kong Disneyland.

For 2007, the HKTB is going back to its previous campaign, "Hong Kong—Live it. Love it!" Also successful, this campaign was in place in both 2004 and 2005, and garnered an Adrian Award from the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International organization for one of its TV commercials.