Chapter 19
Travel and Tourism
Amidst global economic uncertainty and increased regional competition, 2016 was a challenging year for the tourism sector. Additional government funding of $240 million, aimed at increasing the competitiveness of the city as a premier destination, has narrowed the decline in total visitor arrivals, with signs of rebound in some short-haul markets.
Hong Kong welcomed 56.7 million visitors in 2016, lower than the 59.3 million the year before. The slowdown in inbound tourism since 2015 was mainly due to an unfavourable currency factor and intensified competition in the region. The 'one trip per week' policy, in force since April 2015 in response to the public's views, also contributed to a decline in Mainland visitor arrivals. The government has adjusted the city's strategy in moving steadfastly towards promoting a balanced, healthy and long-term development of the tourism industry, with an objective to attract more diversified and high-value-added services. Tourism performance has improved since the second quarter of the year.
Major Tourism Developments
The city makes special efforts to promote MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions), cruise tourism, mega events and green tourism, as work on boosting family and business travels continues.
MICE
Hong Kong is a premier MICE destination, offering world-class convention and exhibition facilities and a wide range of tourist attractions. It has a dedicated office, the Meetings and Exhibitions Hong Kong, under the Hong Kong Tourism Board to promote MICE tourism. The city hosts some of the world's largest trade fairs, such as the Hong Kong Electronics Fair, Hong Kong Jewellery and Gem Fair, Hong Kong Gifts and Premium Fair, and Hong Kong Watch and Clock Fair. In 2016, the city received 1.89 million overnight MICE visitors, an increase of 9.9 per cent over 2015.
Major conventions and exhibitions included Art Basel, IFX Expo Asia 2016, the 16th World Congress of Anaesthesiologists, Million Dollar Round Table Experience and Global Conference 2016, 26th International Congress of the Transplantation Society 2016, 55th Orient and
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