ENG-1971 — Page 210

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IMMIGRATION AND TOURISM

The most significant fact revealed by a study of these figures is the emergence of the Japanese as the largest national group of visitors. Numbering 237,950, the Japanese made up 26.2 per cent of the total, a dramatic increase of eight per cent over 1970. The number of American tourists fell to 217,695, a decrease of 13.5 per cent from last year and only 2.7 per cent more than 1969. Visitors from Australia and New Zealand were fewer than the pre- vious year but 30.8 per cent more than in 1969. Europeans con- tributed only seven per cent of the total. The end of rest and recreation visits in the autumn by American servicemen had a minimal effect on overall tourism, although shops, bars and restau- rants in a few areas suffered considerably.

The trend to regional as opposed to transpacific tourism has been accompanied by another important shift in emphasis. Of all the visitors for the year, 42.5 per cent were under 35 years old. This was 52 per cent more than last year. One reason for this development was the steady increase in passenger charter flights, and the growing number of tourists especially from Japan who arrive in groups. Such a rapid increase in the number of younger travellers presents a challenge to the local industry. With less money for spending in de luxe hotels and on shopping and more adventurous ideas on touring, these visitors seek medium-priced accommodation and a variety of excursions, which in general Hong Kong lacks.

Despite fewer visitors, some difficulty was experienced in finding sufficient hotel rooms during the spring and autumn. With 9,047 rooms available the average room occupancy for the year was 84 per cent, but more hotels are being built and planned. Three hotels with a total of 2,000 rooms will be opened in Causeway Bay and Wan Chai in 1972. All are situated close to the Island entrance to the cross harbour tunnel, and two are designed primarily for group travel. In Kowloon a leading hotel will open a new 180-room wing. Another 1,500 rooms in two hotels on Hong Kong Island are scheduled to open in 1973. The cross harbour tunnel should help ease the growing problem of transport between the airport and hotels on the Island. The need for rapid transit in this area is proved by the popularity of the helicopter service at present operating between the airport and Harcourt Road.

The number of visitors to Hong Kong en route to China has increased this year, although such visitors still account for only a small percentage of all arrivals.

The average length of stay of tourists has declined marginally from 3.8 days in 1970 to 3.6 days in 1971. To encourage people to stay

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