IMMIGRATION AND TOURISM
Tourism
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Hong Kong received 2,301,473 visitors during the year (an increase of four per cent over 1979), and they spent an estimated $6,060 million on goods and services while in the territory. This was a value increase of 2.3 per cent over the previous year.
Of the major sources of visitors during 1980, the first five by volume were Southeast Asia (28 per cent), Japan (20.5 per cent), the Americas (19.1 per cent), Western Europe (14.9 per cent) and Australia and New Zealand (8.4 per cent).
Hong Kong Tourist Association
The Hong Kong Tourist Association (HKTA) is responsible for handling tourism and for proposing plans for its development. A statutory body established by the government, the HKTA co-ordinates the activities of the industry and advises the government on measures for ensuring its growth. The chairman and members of its board of management are appointed by the Governor. The HKTA is financed by a subvention from general revenue to which visitors contribute directly by way of a tax on hotel room charges. Members of the association contribute also, through membership dues and through a variety of co-operative activities.
The HKTA has its headquarters in the Connaught Centre, on the waterfront of Hong Kong Island. Information offices for visitors are maintained at three other locations: Hong Kong International Airport; the Star Ferry concourse in Kowloon and the Govern- ment Publications Centre near the Hong Kong terminal of the Star Ferry. These offices play an important role in ensuring that visitors obtain up-to-date information about Hong Kong, and achieve maximum satisfaction during their stay. Analysis of the information requested and a continuous visitor survey programme provide valuable insights into visitors' needs and interests.
The HKTA has its own representative offices in London, Paris, Rome, Frankfurt, New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Sydney, Auckland, Tokyo, Osaka and Singapore; the addresses of which are given in Appendix 2. Additionally, in Southeast Asia, Japan, Western Australia, the United States, Bahrain and Dubai, the association is represented by Cathay Pacific Airways.
The HKTA aims to maximise tourism revenue by attracting more visitors from poten- tially high-yield market segments, or with special interests, who will stay longer and spend more on a greater variety of goods and services. The association works closely with its members and with others connected with the tourism industry to promote Hong Kong overseas and to develop and maintain facilities for visitors.
A major concern of the tourism industry is the provision of hotel rooms to meet the anticipated future demand. During 1980, the average occupancy rate of Hong Kong hotels was 87 per cent, and based on future visitor arrival projections there is a need for a substantial increase in hotel rooms. Fortunately, investors continue to show a keen interest in hotel development. At the end of the year, the total number of hotel rooms was 15,041. During 1981, it is projected that seven new hotels will be opened, providing 2,300 extra hotel rooms. By the end of 1983, nearly 20,000 hotel rooms should be available. To maintain occupancy rates and to develop business in the off-peak months, the association pursues a highly selective marketing policy and an active product development programme. Tourism to China continues to grow, bringing with it a bonus for Hong Kong in the form of an increasing number of visitors who stay here either on their way to or from China. Visitors arriving in Hong Kong from China in 1980 accounted for 10.5 per cent of the total number of arrivals. Close liaison with the Chinese tourism authorities is continuing.