ENG-1974 — Page 175

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Tourism and Immigration

TOURISM is Hong Kong's second largest foreign currency earner, with nearly 1.3 million visitors attracted to the territory in 1974. Despite the current slow-down of economic activity gross earnings from tourism were estimated at $2,850 million, an increase of nine per cent over 1973. Hong Kong also attracts many immigrants, and during the year 36,224 legal immigrants, mostly from China, arrived in the territory.

Tourism

In a year of worldwide slow-down of economic activity and rising fuel prices, the tourist industry has not remained unaffected, dependent as it is on low-cost sea and air transportation. However, compared with other well-developed tourist des- tinations around the world, Hong Kong has fared well, recording an overall, although small, increase in the number of arrivals of 0.3 per cent over 1973. This does not compare with the higher growth rates of previous years, but must still be regarded as a satisfactory achievement.

A total of 1,295,462 visitors arrived in Hong Kong during 1974 and the South- east Asia regional market, which developed rapidly during 1973, continued to grow despite some travel restrictions and various economic problems. Visitors from South- east Asia numbered 275,670 and now represent 21.3 per cent of all visitors. At the same time there has been a significant decline in the number of Japanese visitors- a total of 423,098 arrived in Hong Kong in 1974. The American market has continued to grow, slowly, despite higher air fares on Pacific routes. This was made possible by the expansion of 10-day charter programmes from the United States which have brought thousands of Americans to Hong Kong for longer stays than in the past. A similar although much smaller programme is now in operation from Britain, but overall the British market has declined due primarily to the unfavourable economic situation there. Within Western Europe long-haul travel is about the same level as last year, with considerable variations between countries, and West Germany sustain- ing above average growth.

The increase in the number of visitors from Australia and New Zealand con- tinued, and this is developing into an important market for Hong Kong due to the introduction of a charter programme. During the year 117,901 Australians and New Zealanders visited Hong Kong and it is expected that this trend will continue despite devaluation of the Australian currency. During the autumn a large scale Hong Kong promotion took place in Australia coinciding with the introduction of a direct Hong Kong/Sydney/Hong Kong, Cathay Pacific Airways route.