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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1981
TOURISM HAS RECORD YEAR
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IT WAS ANOTHER RECORD YEAR FOR THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY, WITH THE NET TOURISM SURPLUS COMING TO ABOUT $1 800 MILLION, SAID THE HON DAVID NEWBIGGING, AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
IN TABLING THE HONG KONG TOURIST ASSOCIATION'S ANNUAL REPORT FOR 1980-81, MR NEWBIGGING, ITS CHAIRMAN, SAID THE SURPLUS WAS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GROSS TOURISM RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURE OF HONG KONG RESIDENTS TRAVELLING ABROAD.
THIS SURPLUS OFFSET 13.5 PER CENT OF THE VISIBLE TRADE DEFICIT EVEN AFTER TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE EXPENDITURE OF HONG KONG RESIDENTS TRAVELLING TO CHINA, HE SAID.
THE NUMBER OF VISITORS INCREASED BY FOUR PER CENT OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR, ALTHOUGH PER CAPITA SPENDING FELL BY 1.6 PER CENT.
HOWEVER, GROSS EXPENDITURE BY VISITORS CAME TO $6.5 BILLION, AND HE EXPECTED THE FIGURE TO EXCEED $7 BILLION THIS YEAR.
THE QUESTION OF COURTESY AND SERVICE WAS HIGHLIGHTED IN THE ANNUAL REPORT.
+WHILE BELIEVE IT IS OVER-STATING THE POSITION TO CLAIM THAT HONG KONG IS ONE OF THE RUDEST CITIES TO VISIT IN ASIA, WE DO NONETHELESS RECEIVE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT RUDENESS, LACK OF COURTESY AND POOR SERVICE.
+THIS DOES NOT APPLY GENERALLY TO THE HOTEL INDUSTRY BUT ! WOULD TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY AGAIN TO URGE THE TOURIST INDUSTRY AS A WHOLE TO CONCENTRATE ON UPGRADING THE STANDARDS OF PROFESSIONALISM, COURTESY AND SERVICE.
+THE REMEDY RESTS WITH THE INDUSTRY IF THE GOOSE WHICH LAYS THE GOLDEN EGG IS NOT TO MEET AN UNTIMELY END.
*THE ASSOCIATION ITSELF CONTINUES WITH ITS OWN COURTESY CAMPAIGN, HE SAID.
ANOTHER IMPORTANT INITIATIVE OF THE ASSOCIATION WAS THE EXPANSION OF THE RANGE OF CULTURAL AND OTHER FORMS OF ENTERTAINMENT, ATTRACTING BOTH VISITORS AND RESIDENTS. HE WELCOMED THE GOVERNMENT'S DECISION TO INVITE THE TOUR IST ASSOCIATION TO ORGANISE A FIREWORKS DISPLAY ON THE EVE OF CHINESE NEW YEAR ON JANUARY 24.
/THE HONG