The growth in total visitor arrivals in the first half of this year was driven mainly by the mainland market, said Anthony Lau, executive director of the HKTB.
The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) was happy to report a 10.1% rise in visitor arrivals over the first half of 2018, with the 30.6 million total made up of more than 13.85 million overnight arrivals, growing 6.2%.
The growth in total visitor arrivals in the first half of this year was driven mainly by the mainland market, said Anthony Lau, executive director of the HKTB.
“As for international arrivals, long-haul markets performed well, growing 2.6%. With the continued intense competition among travel destinations in the region, visitor arrivals from short-haul markets fluctuated, falling off 1.5%.”
As well as focusing on summer promotions targeting family, young segments and airline and trade partnerships, the HKTB will introduce promotions for the upcoming Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong High Sped Rail and Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge.
However, with the yuan currency declines and instability around the US-China trade war, Hong Kong’s partnership with The Greater Bay Area is a major focus too.
HKTB chairman Peter Lam said Hong Kong should be swapping competition with the mainland for cooperation and joining with tourism bodies in Guangdong as well as Macau to promote The Greater Bay Area.
This upcoming economic and technology hub will incorporate Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Zhongshan, Dongguan, Huizhou, Jiangmen and Zhaoqing with Macao and Hong Kong.
City minister for mainland affairs Patrick Nip has suggested it could take only four years before the benefits of this hub will be felt around the region.
“The picture I can foresee is that between now and 2022, travelling, studying and working [in the region] will become more convenient [for Hongkongers],” said Nip.
“The ultimate aim is to bring economic and social improvements ... by supplementing the strengths [of these 11 cities].”