Government data shows visitor numbers to Hong Kong declined 2.5% YoY in 2015, the first fall in over a decade, driven by a drop Chinese tourists, who account for almost three-quarters of all visitors to Hong Kong. Government data shows tourist arrivals to Hong Kong fell 2.5 percent year-on-year in 2015 to 59.32 million, the first decline since 2003 when the city was hit by an outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). Ricky Tse, Chairman of the Hong Kong Inbound Tour Operators Association, told Reuters he expects the downward trend to continue in 2016, as the strong Hong Kong dollar makes other Asian destinations such as Japan and South Korea comparatively cheaper. The government has been trying to boost tourism since it was elected last year with plans including an increase in hotel rooms from about 50,000 per day at present to more than 100,000 within five years.
Government data shows visitor numbers to Hong Kong declined 2.5% YoY in 2015, the first fall in over a decade, driven by a drop Chinese tourists, who account for almost three-quarters of all visitors to Hong Kong. Ricky Tse, Chairman of the Hong Kong Inbound Tour Operators Association, told Reuters he expects the downward trend to continue in 2016, as the strong Hong Kong dollar makes other Asian destinations such as Japan and South Korea comparatively cheaper. The government has been trying to boost tourism since it was elected last year with plans including an increase in hotel rooms from about 50,000 per day at present to more than 100,000 within five years.