ENG-2013 — Page 370

Chapter 18

Travel and Tourism

Hong Kong is a vibrant city that never ceases to surprise visitors with new attractions.

The commissioning of the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal in June puts Hong Kong firmly at the centre of cruise tourism in Asia. A new themed area opened in

Hong Kong Disneyland in May and

plans were confirmed during the year

for further developments there and at Ocean Park.

Hong Kong registered a record high of 54.3 million visitor arrivals in 2013, an increase of 11.7 per cent over 2012. Mainland visitors reached 40.75 million and continued to be the largest source of visitors to Hong Kong, 16.7 per cent up over 2012. There was also a notable rise in visitors from a number of other source markets, including Russia (plus 20 per cent) Vietnam (plus 14.4 per cent), Macao (plus 8.5 per cent) and Thailand (plus 6.6 per cent).

Major Tourism Developments

While work on boosting family and business travels continued, special efforts were made to promote MICE ('Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions'), cruise tourism, mega events and 'green tourism.

MICE

Hong Kong is a premier MICE destination, offering world-class convention and exhibition facilities and a wide range of tourist attractions. The 'Meetings and Exhibitions Hong Kong' (MEHK), a dedicated office established under the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), promotes MICE tourism for Hong Kong.

There were 1.63 million overnight MICE visitors to Hong Kong in 2013, a rise of 1.8 per cent over 2012. Hong Kong was once again selected as the 'Best Business City in the World' by a leading MICE journal. Hong Kong hosts some of the world's largest trade fairs, such as the Hong Kong Electronics Fair, the Hong Kong Jewellery and Gem Fair, the Hong Kong Gifts and Premium Fair, and the Hong Kong Watch and Clock Fair.

Major conventions and exhibitions held in Hong Kong during the year included Watches & Wonders Asia Haute Horlogerie 2013, SIGGRAPH Asia 2013, World Congress of Nephrology 2013, Art Basel, 6th Asia Pacific Heart Rhythm Society & CardioRhythm, 45th Congress of International

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