Tourists spend more in HK in 2007

HONG KONG – Figures released by the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) show that Total Expenditure Associated to Inbound Tourism (TEAIT) in 2007 here reached HK$140.52 billion (IS$18.04 billion), an increase of 16.4 percent over 2006. The average per capita of overnight visitors surpassed the HK$5,000 mark to hit HK$5,122 (US$657), 6.7 percent higher than 2006. Spending by same-day in-town visitors surged by 22.1 percent to HK$1,239 (US$159). HKTB said the increases were achieved against the appreciation of currency in many source markets.

Overnight visitors from The Americas continued to have the highest per capita spending at HK$5,744, (US$737) followed by Europe and Africa & The Middle East. Spending from Mainland China visitors, with per capita spending growing by 10.4 percent to HK$5,193 (US$666.50), is the highest among short-haul regions and the strongest growth of all market regions.

Shopping took up the largest share of spending by both overnight (56.7 percent) and same-day visitors (86.2 percent). Overnight visitors from Mainland China devoted 72.6 percent of their spending on shopping.