HK expects more tourists from Southeast Asia

JAKARTA (JP): Hong Kong expects more visitors from Southeast Asia this year following its return to China, the Hong Kong Tourist Association (HKTA) said here yesterday.

HKTA's general manager Ellen Kwan said she expected the increase of visitors from Southeast Asia would far exceed the 6 percent growth of visitors predicted for this year. Southeast Asia comprises the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia.

"Southeast Asia is a major market for Hong Kong tourism, as the region is growing rapidly," Kwan said at the launching of Hong Kong's tourist promotion campaign.

She said 761,785 visitors from the region had visited Hong Kong in the first six months of this year, a 13.7 percent rise from 679,688 in the same period last year.

Malaysian tourists rose by 26.1 percent during this year's first half, Filipino tourists by 13.5 percent and Indonesian tourists by 13 percent, she said.

Last year, Southeast Asian visitors reached 1.4 million in Hong Kong, a 14.4 percent growth from 1995.

According to the association, South and Southeast Asian visitors spent a total HK$10 million (US$1.29 million) during their visit to Hong Kong in 1996, or about HK$6,798 a person.

Half of the amount was spent on shopping and the rest on hotels, restaurants, entertainment and tours, HKTA data says.

The association was conducting a major tourist campaign to promote the 100 days after the handover. The so-called 100 Days of Wonders began on July 1 and will end on October 8.

Events such as the Asian Musicfest, the Rugby World Cup Sevens, and the World's dragon boat racing championships would be held during the period.

A delegation comprising officials, entrepreneurs and well- known Hong Kong figures are promoting the event in Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore. Kwan said the campaign cost HK$20 million.

She said the completion of Hong Kong's new airport next April would also help attract more tourists.

The new airport would be able to receive 87 million people and 9 million tons of air cargo, she said. The current airport has the capacity of 6 million tons of air cargo and 30 million passengers.

The airport cost HK$17 billion in investment, she said.

Meanwhile, a senior Hong Kong immigration officer, Chan Kwok Ki, said yesterday the return of the territory to China would not affect its visitors policy.

"Visitors from 170 countries can still enter Hong Kong without a visa, unless they're here for work or study," he said.

Indonesia was one of the countries free to enter Hong Kong without a visa, he said.

Chan said Hong Kong would keep its strict policy for illegal migrants from China despite the recent handover. (das)