Tourist spending in Hong Kong up 32.7% to HK$210bn

Visitor arrivals seen to grow 39.64mn in 2011, but is dependent on the stability of the global economy and maintenance of China of its robust economic growth.

Tourists spent a record $209.98 billion last year, up 32.7% on 2009, the Hong Kong Tourism Board announced on Sunday.

Per capita spending of overnight visitors rose 16.6% to $6,728, while that of same-day, in-town visitors rose by 2.7% to $1,846.

The board’s chairman James Tien said Hong Kong welcomed 36.03 million visitors last year, 21.8% more than in 2009.

Total spending by overnight visitors amounted to $135.14 billion, up 38.4%. All market regions achieved remarkable growth in overnight per capita spending, with an increase of 30% or more for long-haul regions and 27.8% for North Asia.

Mainlanders continued to have the highest per capita spending for overnight visitors at $7,453.

For same-day, in-town visitors, total spending reached $29.35 billion. Again, Mainlanders were the biggest spenders in this category.

Shopping took up the largest share of the visitor spending, up 33.5% year-on-year to $109.59 billion.

Mr Tien expects visitor arrivals to swell to 39.64 million this year, provided the global economy remains stable and the Mainland maintains its robust economic growth.