19 TRAVEL AND TOURISM
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TOURISM remained the territory's second-largest earner of foreign exchange. Hong Kong welcomed a record 10.2 million visitors in 1995, an increase of 9.7 per cent over the previous year. Visitor spending, amounted to $72 billion, was 12 per cent higher than 1994 and represented a contribution of some six per cent to Hong Kong's gross domestic product.
Hong Kong remained Asia's most popular travel destination. Apart from China, which provided 22 per cent of visitors, the largest increase in visitor arrivals in recent years has been from neighbouring areas in the Asian region, notably Taiwan, which accounted for 17.5 per cent of the total arrivals in 1995. Other major markets were Japan (16.3 per cent), Western Europe (11.5 per cent), Southeast Asia (12.2 per cent), North America (9.2 per cent) and Australia and New Zealand (3.3 per cent).
The Hong Kong Tourist Association
The Hong Kong Tourist Association (HKTA) was established by the government in 1957 to develop the territory's tourism industry. It helps to increase the number of visitors to Hong Kong; promotes the improvement of visitor facilities; secures overseas publicity for the territory's attractions; co-ordinates the activities of the tourism industry; and advises the government on industry-related matters. For 38 years, the HKTA has worked closely with both the local and international travel trade, providing information, support, advice and a host of services so that tour operators and travel agents are fully-equipped to market Hong Kong to their clients.
The chairman and members of the HKTA board of management are appointed by the Governor. The association is financed through an annual subvention from the government. It also derives funds from membership dues, sales of publications and souvenirs, and from its own commercial tours. At the end of 1995, the HKTA had 1 689 members, comprising airlines, hotels, travel agents, tour operators and retail, restaurant and other visitor service establishments.
The HKTA maintains information and gift centres in the basement of Jardine House, in Central, and on the Star Ferry concourse in Kowloon. It also operates two information counters at the Hong Kong International Airport at Kai Tak. During 1995, these centres assisted 2.6 million visitors. The HKTA also distributed 10.9 million pieces of literature; handled 1 044 written enquiries; sent information to 5 886 fax-users through the infofax service; and responded to 43 994 enquiries via the Mandarin, Japanese and multi-lingual telephone hotlines.
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