Hong Kong's Visitor Arrivals, Spending Hit New High in 2010

Hong Kong's visitor arrivals in 2010 reached a historic high at 36 million, 21.8 percent more than in 2009, according to latest figures released by the Hong Kong Tourism Board on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the total tourism expenditure associated to inbound tourism is expected to reach 212.6 billion HK dollars (27.3 billion U.S. dollars), an upward leap of 30.5 percent compared to 2009.

The Hong Kong Tourism Board attributed the growth to a number of factors, such as steady growth of the world's economy and appreciation of most currencies against the Hong Kong dollar.

The Chinese Mainland continued to be the primary driver of growth in arrivals to Hong Kong in 2010, with arrivals climbing up by 26.3 percent year-on-year to 22.68 million, and accounting for 63 percent of the total arrivals.

The total overnight arrivals in 2010 amounted to over 20 million, or 55.7 percent of all arrivals to Hong Kong, 18.7 percent higher than the number in 2009.

All market regions, especially South and Southeast Asia and the Chinese Mainland, showed prominent growth in their overnight arrivals.

Total tourism expenditure associated to inbound tourism for 2010 is expected to reach 212.6 billion HK dollars, an upward leap of 30.5 percent compared to 2009.

It is estimated that per capita spending among overnight visitors will increase by 16.2 percent from 5,770 HK dollars to 6, 705 HK dollars, while that of same-day, in-town visitors will rise to 1,884 HK dollars, as compared to 1,798 HK dollars in 2009. (1 U. S. dollar equals 7.788 HK dollars)