CHAPTER 17
Travel and Tourism
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TOURISM plays an important role in the economy of Hong Kong. In 2001, it generated receipts of around $64.28 billion. Tourism straddles a range of important economic activities spanning the hotel, retail and restaurant sectors, as well as trade conferences and exhibitions.
After a record year in 2000, visitor arrivals in 2001 held up well despite the impact of the terrorist attacks in the United States on September 11, which brought about a downturn in the number of visitor arrivals from the United States and Europe. This was more than offset by growth in arrivals from Asia and, in particular, the Mainland.
The Mainland is the HKSAR's largest source market, with arrivals reaching 4.45 million, up 17.5 per cent on 2000, and accounting for 32.4 per cent of total arrivals. Taiwan again came second, with arrivals of 2.42 million, up 1.4 per cent, and accounted for 17.6 per cent of total arrivals.
Visitor arrivals from the Americas declined 2.9 per cent to 1.26 million; Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific recorded a decrease of 7.2 per cent. The number of visitors from Europe, Africa and the Middle East declined by 4.2 per cent. Visitors from South and South-East Asia totalled 1.75 million, practically unchanged from the previous year. The North Asian market recorded a slight increase of 0.4 per cent to 1.76 million visitors.
Tourism Infrastructure, Facilities and Products
Leisure Tourism
In 2001, the Government awarded a number of engineering and consultancy contracts in relation to the reclamation and construction of the necessary infrastructure to support Hong Kong Disneyland, a major project announced in 1999.
Hong Kong Disneyland will be located at Penny's Bay on Lantau Island. It is scheduled to open in 2005. Upon opening, it will comprise a Disney theme park, Disney-themed hotels and retail, dining and entertainment facilities. Hong Kong Disneyland will enrich the quality of life for local residents through its wide range of quality recreational facilities. It will also herald a new era for the HKSAR's tourism industry and consolidate Hong Kong's position as a world-class tourist destination. In its first year of operation, the theme park is expected to attract 3.4 million incoming tourists, rising to 7.4 million after about 15 years. Of these, an estimated 1.4