Hong Kong Visitor Arrivals for September 2005

Hong Kong welcomed 1,787,728 visitors in September 2005, a 5.9% increase over the same month in 2004. This raised cumulative arrivals for January-September 2005 to 16,953,651, a year-on-year increase of 7.6%

The greatest increases in arrivals continued to come from long-haul markets, with Europe, Africa and the Middle East growing by 35% (139,353 visitors), and Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific by 32.4% (58,219). Individual markets registering double-digit growth were France (+37.9%), Australia (+33.2%), Germany (+24.5%), Thailand (+22.7%), India (+19.3%), the United Kingdom (+18%) and South Korea (+16.5%). Other regional markets showing increases in arrivals were South and Southeast Asia (+10.6%, 172,260), the Americas (+10.5%, 118,122), North Asia (+3.2%, 165,492) and Mainland China (+1.4%, 925,417), while Taiwan registered marginal growth of 0.6% (171,075). 

“The excellent results from long-haul markets once again reflects the Hong Kong Tourism Board's (HKTB) efforts to attract visitors from all our major volume providers around the world,” said HKTB Executive Director Clara Chong. “It’s also encouraging to see significant increases from several short-haul markets.

“As for our largest single market, Mainland China, it provided more than half Hong Kong’s visitors in September. While the percentage increase in arrivals was relatively modest, we nonetheless welcomed more than 925,000 visitors from the Mainland, which is an extraordinarily high base of consumers,” Ms Chong added.

The next few months will see heavy promotion of Hong Kong in all key overseas markets, as the HKTB progressively rolls out its 2006 Discover Hong Kong Year campaign. This integrated global promotion is currently being launched to long-haul consumers, and will be rolled out in short-haul markets towards the end of this year.

Statistics by Markets

Mainland China provided 925,417 arrivals in September, 1.4% more than in the same month in 2004. This raised the cumulative 2005 total for January to September to 9,177,443, a year-on-year increase of 2.2%. The 371,530 arrivals under the Individual Visit Scheme (IVS) were 14.4% higher than in the previous September, and represented 40.1% of all Mainland visitors. The cumulative IVS total for the first nine months of the year now stands at more than 4 million, 44.2% of all arrivals from the Mainland and a 37.1% increase over 2004.

September arrivals from Taiwan grew by a marginal 0.6% to 171,075, taking the cumulative total thus far for the year to 1,589,297 (+2.9%).

South and Southeast Asia showed an healthy growth of 10.6% to 172,260, which raised the total number of visitors from the region between January and September to 1,661,037, 17.8% more than in the same period in 2004. Of individual markets, Singapore provided the greatest volume (39,583, +9.9%), followed by the Philippines (29,863, +9.5%), Malaysia (26,323, +3.3%), India (23,883, +19.3%) and Thailand (22,825, +22.7%). 

Arrivals from North Asia in September grew by 3.2% to 165,492, bringing the cumulative total for the region to 1,358,974, a 15.3% increase over 2005. While visitor numbers from South Korea in September jumped by 16.5% to 52,034, arrivals from Japan slipped by -2% (113,458).

All key long-haul regions grew in September, led by the 35% (139,353) increase from Europe, Africa and The Middle East. Arrivals from Australia, New Zealand & South Pacific grew by 32.4% to 58,219 and from the Americas by 10.5% to 118,122. Total January-September arrivals from each market increased by 27.1% (1,222,196), 32.9% (452,622) and 13.7% (1,123,415) respectively.

Same-Day In-Town Visitors

Some 61.1% of all visitors to Hong Kong in September stayed in the city for at least one night, compared with 60.6% in the same month last year. Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific had the highest percentage of overnight arrivals, at 81%.

Between January and September 2005, 63.1% of all visitors stayed for one night or more, slightly higher than the 62.9% recorded in 2004.

Hotel Occupancy

Hotel occupancy across all categories of hotels and tourist guest houses in September was 82%, a two percentage-point fall compared with the 2004 figure. This partially reflects the 6% increase in Hong Kong’s room supply during the past 12 months. 

Visitors’ most favoured geographic locations in September were Tsim Sha Tsui and Yau Ma Tei/Mong Kok, where hotels recorded an occupancy rate of 85%.

The average achieved hotel room rate across all hotel categories and districts was HK$802, 15% higher than in September 2004.

The average hotel occupancy for January-September 2005 is 84%, two percentage points lower than in 2004. The average achieved hotel room rate is HK$733, 14.8% higher than in the first nine months of 2004.

See also: Hong Kong Visitor Arrivals for August 2005

See other recent news regarding: HKTB, Hong Kong