ENG-1999 — Page 337

CHAPTER 16

Travel and Tourism

THE Government attaches great importance to enhancing Hong Kong's attractiveness as the most popular tourism destination in Asia. Statistics show that the many efforts being made in this regard are beginning to bear fruit. In 1999, there were 10.68 million visitor arrivals, representing an increase of 11.5 per cent over the same period in 1998. The hotel occupancy rate was 79 per cent compared with 76 per cent in 1998.

The Mainland remained Hong Kong's largest source market, with arrivals reaching 3.08 million, up 18.7 per cent over 1998, and accounting for 28.9 per cent of total arrivals.

Taiwan again was second, with arrivals of two million, up 10.3 per cent, contributing 18.7 per cent of arrivals. Visitors from South and South-East Asia totalled 1.42 million, up 19 per cent. The North Asian market produced 1.28 million visitors, up 13.8 per cent, which was largely due to the improved economic situation in South Korea.

Among the other market regions as designated by the Hong Kong Tourist Association (HKTA), visitor arrivals from the Americas rose 4.7 per cent to 1.08 million. The other two long-haul regions (Europe, Africa and the Middle East and Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific) produced below-average results. The largest annual percentage increases in visitor arrivals were obtained from Indonesia, Thailand and other short-haul markets, which had shrunk massively during the 1997-98 financial turmoil.

To enhance Hong Kong's attractiveness as a tourism destination and to broaden the range of facilities and tourism experiences available in Hong Kong, new facilities such as an international wetland park at Tin Shui Wai; a new world-class performing arts venue; a cable-car system on Lantau Island; a $500 million 'Adventure Bay' attraction at Ocean Park; and a 'Fisherman's Wharf' in Aberdeen were being planned in 1999.

On November 2, the Chief Executive announced that an agreement had been reached to build a Disney theme park and resort at Penny's Bay on Lantau Island. This development marks the beginning of a new era for Hong Kong as an international tourism destination. The Government and The Walt Disney Company will form a joint venture to build a world-class international theme park, a resort/hotel complex and a retail, dining and entertainment centre. The project will generate substantial long-term economic returns and enhance Hong Kong's international image as a world-class city. Disney's choice of Hong Kong as the site for its third international theme park is also a vote of confidence in Hong Kong. The

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