ENG-1968 — Page 241

IMMIGRATION AND TOURISM

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In the international field, Hong Kong has continued to contribute to the work of the travel industry in the spheres of research, promo- tion and development through the Pacific and East Asian Travel Commission and the specialist commissions of the International Union of Official Travel Organizations, recognized by the United Nations as the official body representative of world travel. Full assistance has been given to the Pacific Area Travel Association and to the chapter of that organization in Hong Kong. The Tourist Association is also an active member of the recently formed East Asian Travel Association. This association has undertaken studies on trends in air fares and their implications in East Asian countries and the European Market, which have been well received in international travel circles.

In Hong Kong the Tourist Association has been active in bringing the importance of the tourist industry to the attention of the general public through the supply of information to the press, radio and television and this year the association participated, for the first time, in the annual exhibition of the Chinese Manufacturers' Association. Much interest was also shown in an exhibition of travel_posters displayed in the City Hall, arranged jointly by the Tourist Association and the Museum and Art Gallery of the Urban Council. During the six weeks that the posters were on view, some 13,748 people came to the exhibition.

During the latter half of the year a shortage of hotel accommoda- tion made itself felt. One hotel with 250 rooms was completed. A new hotel with 800 rooms is expected to open on July 1, 1969 but even this addition will only provide temporary relief in face of the present increasingly serious shortage of rooms.