The Hong Kong Tourism Board has reported record-breaking arrivals figures every month this year. From January to July, 13,045,288 international visitors travelled to the territory, up 8.7% on the previous year.
Numbers from the UK totalled 259,475, up almost 15% on the same period last year. Tour operators are also seeing an increased demand for the destination. Bales Worldwide has seen a 75% rise in demand for brochured itineraries year on year and tailor-made tours are up 60%. Hayes and Jarvis’ forward bookings for next summer are up 64% year on year.
Other operators are continuing to build on infrastructure investment and the Discover Hong Kong 2006 project to launch campaigns and packages. HKTB director northern Europe and Middle East Sue Whitehead said: “Discover Hong Kong 2006 has been well received by our trade partners. There is a genuine conviction that the campaign, coupled with new attractions, will enable them to increase business.”
Somak and Thomas Cook Signature are among those launching campaigns. Somak head of product Rob Haynes said: “We have some fine-tuning to do but we have agreed to do some programmes to package Hong Kong as a stand-alone destination. We’re also trying some new combination packages – we’re using it as a gateway to the Philippines for the first time and promoting Hong Kong much more in conjunction with China.
Thomas Cook Signature has seen a 30% increase in demand for Hong Kong this year and is looking to grow fully inclusive tour business even more in 2006. “We’re about to launch a big campaign with the HKTB and are planning to push Hong Kong well into 2006,” said Far East product manager Victoria Sertic.
Thomas Cook will also be pushing more Hong Kong/ China twin-centres, with Hainan Island a possibility for 2006/07, while Macau is to be incorporated as part of a ‘Hong Kong plus Hideaway’ product.
Jetlife is also citing China as key to Hong Kong’s future growth, with Hong Kong seen as the preferred end-point for most tours to the country. Product director long-haul Paul Tilling said the development of Hainan Island and the resort of Sanya have put China beach stays on the horizon.
“Five-star luxury hotels have opened up and the destination is becoming a viable combination with Hong Kong for rest and relaxation. Jetlife is considering adding Hainan Island in future brochure editions,” he said.
Lead-in price for Hong Kong is £570 per person in November and December for a four-night break at the Stanford Hillview in Kowloon, including flights and transfers.
As part of Discover Hong Kong year the HKTB will shortly unveil a dedicated global online competition for agents with trips to Hong Kong up for grabs. It will be called the Discover Hong Kong Year Challenge.
