IMMIGRATION AND TOURISM
163
partly due to a powerful campaign now active in America to en- courage people to spend their holidays in their own country. It is also possible that some Americans preferred to spend their travel money visiting the New York Fair. Again, travel is a delicate and vulnerable industry and there is no doubt that international friction deterred many people-especially older ones from visiting the Orient in 1965.
During the year certain features of the tourist industry showed pronounced changes which will have an important impact on the future of Hong Kong's travel trade. The most important was the increase in visitors from Japan, who within the next three or four years will probably outnumber tourists from any other country. Every effort must be made to attract them to Hong Kong and particular attention will have to be given to creating an adequate supply of Japanese-speaking guides and interpreters.
It was also noticeable during the year that visitors were staying for shorter periods than formerly. This trend is causing concern and must be actively combated if a decrease in tourist revenue is to be avoided. In addition, it is recognized in all major tourist countries that the per capita spending power of the average visitor is now considerably less than formerly. This can be attributed partly to the fact that a great many more younger people now take their holidays overseas and this in turn has contributed to the remarkable increase in air traffic. Unfortunately the number of passengers arriving by sea during the year decreased and fewer cruise ships called.
The importance of facilitation in all its aspects cannot be over- emphasized. From a promotional point of view first impressions are very important and last impressions can determine whether a person will have a genuine desire to return. Fortunately, Hong Kong has a very good reputation for efficient handling of passengers and luggage, quick processing through health and immigration formalities, and a minimum of interference from the customs authorities. Transit and visa formalities were further simplified during the year and special arrangements introduced for groups of overseas Chinese visitors.
Many improvements were made, and are being made, to hotels, restaurants, transportation services and other units of the 'visitor
ļ