HK expects slower growth in tourism

JAKARTA (JP): Foreign tourist arrivals will remain high in Hong Kong this year although the growth rate is likely to be slower than it was in 1996, says an executive of the Hong Kong Tourist Association (HKTA).

HKTA's Susan Tang-loh told The Jakarta Post here yesterday that Hong Kong would not cease to be a trend setter or major tourist destination after the handover to China.

"We expect a six percent or seven percent increase in the number of tourist arrivals this year," she said.

A total 11.7 million people visited Hong Kong last year, an increase of 14.7 percent from 10.2 million in 1995.

Official statistics show that Hong Kong earned last year some HK$82.46 billion (US$ 10.65 billion) from foreign visitors.

HKTA announced earlier this month that it expected 12 million tourists to spend US$12.27 billion in the city this year.

Travel and tourism was one of Hong Kong's major foreign exchange earners.

After more than 156 years as a British colony Hong Kong was returned to China on July 1.

"We expect slower growth because there are limited hotel rooms," Tang-loh told the Post.

She said there were 33,536 rooms in 88 hotels in Hong Kong at the end of 1996. "The number of rooms is estimated to reach 36,000 in 93 hotels this year."

Hong Kong was predicted to have 116 hotels with 44,436 rooms by 2000, she said.

Tang-loh said Hong Kong would host the Hong Kong Asian MusicFest 97, a three-day music extravaganza.

"The event, held on 16 Aug. to 18 Aug., will be the first such musical festival in Asia," she said.

Artists Andy Lau, Jacky Cheung, Aaron Kwok and Leon Lai would perform at the event, she said.

"Indonesians are expected to see the event, as some of the artists are well-known here," she said.

She said Indonesians were not required to apply for a visa to visit Hong Kong.

The visa application process for people wanting to visit Hong Kong for two weeks or more will not change under Chinese rule. (icn)