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IMMIGRATION AND TOURISM
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. Analysis of the information requested and a continuous visitor survey programme provide valuable insights into visitors' expenditure patterns, as well as their 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 (details are given at Appendix 2). Additionally, the association is represented by Cathay Pacific Airways in Southeast Asia, Japan, Western Australia, the United States, Bahrain, Dubai and Bombay.
At the beginning of the year, the categories of HKTA members were renamed 'travel industry' and 'ordinary' members (the latter category representing retail and other service organisations). In addition, a representative from the Committee of Retailers now joins travel industry members on the HKTA board of management.
The marketing policy of the HKTA continues to be that of concentrating on high yield market segments and increasing length of stay, and thereby visitor expenditure. New markets are developing: the opening of Disneyland in Japan has generated an increase in intra-regional travel, developments in flight patterns are providing new markets in Canada and the United States, while deregulation has opened up the Korean market. The increased value of foreign currencies against the Hong Kong dollar also produced a significant increase, in Hong Kong dollar terms, in per capita expenditure by visitors. Quantitative research projects were conducted in Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Japan, Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States. Findings from this research provide useful information on the potential of the travel business from these countries to Hong Kong, as well as travel motivations and perceptions of Hong Kong as a travel destination. During the year, trade and consumer promotions were organised in major markets. They emphasised the variety of Hong Kong's attractions such as food, shopping, nightlife and resort facilities. Altogether 970 travel trade members from around the world were briefed and brought up-to-date with the territory's tourism product. In addition, Hong Kong has become the venue for a growing number of international meetings and incentive movements by business groups and professional organisations. In 1983, more than 450 international conferences and incentive programmes brought 80 000 delegates and visitors to Hong Kong.
The HKTA, through its Product Development and Tour Development Departments, aims to preserve and improve existing visitor facilities and to encourage the development of new projects and tours. These serve both to increase Hong Kong's attractions as a destination and to encourage the visitor to stay longer. The association also encourages investment and development in hotels, resorts, restaurants and similar facilities, and promotes festivals, special interest tours and the revival of Chinese culture and heritage. Among the tours offered, the association's 'Land Between' tour of the more scenic and peaceful side of the New Territories has received good support from local agents and hotel members, attracting some 7 000 visitors since its introduction at the end of 1982.
The International Dragon Boat Races, held off the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront for the sixth year, were again extremely successful with a record number of nine overseas and 78 local teams participating. Broadcast live on television, the event attracted much local and international publicity. The Row for Charity Race - an integral part of the races – in which crews from local hotels and banks took part, raised $503,000 for the Community Chest.
During 1983, the HKTA and the Society for the Advancement of Chinese Folklore organised a Lantern Festival with celebrations in Central District. The HKTA also