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TRAVEL AND TOURISM
and certificate programmes in customer service. To enhance the high standards of professionalism among Hong Kong's tour co-ordinators, the '1989 Hong Kong Tour Co-ordinator of the Year' campaign was organised from May to July, during which more than 6 000 nominations were received from visitors. From these, the top 20 tour co-ordinators were selected and the Grand Award winner and five winners of an Award for Outstanding Performance were chosen.
To encourage greater courtesy among front-line staff in the industry, the HKTA continued its programme of 'Hong Kong Cares' courtesy awards. The major courtesy programme for 1989 was the industry-wide 'Hong Kong Cares' Travel Industry Courtesy Campaign, launched in October. Additional programmes earlier in the year concentrated on retail assistants and establishments, with more than 3 300 nomination forms received from visitors during the promotion period. The top 20 nominees chosen were interviewed by a panel of judges who then chose the winner of the Grand Courtesy Award and two winners of a Courtesy Award of Excellence. The top 20 retail establishments which received the highest number of nominations received the 'Hong Kong Cares' Award for the Most Outstanding Retail Establishment.
For the 22nd year, the association organised the Student Ambassador Programme whereby 100 students who are going overseas to further their studies in tertiary institutions take part in a month-long programme comprising lectures, tours and special visits designed to increase their awareness of various aspects of Hong Kong and enable them to talk _confidently and accurately about their home.
The association continued to publish regular reports on the performance of the industry, and to conduct its 'Visitors Survey', which monitors changes in the basic demographics of all visitors, their activities, spending patterns and their attitudes towards Hong Kong's tourism facilities. Major research publications which the HKTA produces include: 'A Statistical Review of Tourism', 'Report on Tourism Receipts', 'Visitor Arrival Statistics', 'Visitor Profile Report', 'Hotel Room Occupancy Report', 'Hotel Supply Situation', 'Hong Kong Hotel Industry Report' and ‘Airline Statistics'.
In 1989, five new hotels opened, bringing the total number of rooms in Hong Kong to 27 269. This reflects the continuing confidence that the private developer is placing in the future of Hong Kong's tourism industry.