2010 visitors reach record high

Visitor arrivals in the first half of the year reached 16.86 million, about 23.1% higher than the number of visitors in the same period in 2009.

Hong Kong Tourism Board said visitor arrivals in the first half of this year reached a record 16.86 million, rising 23.1% on the same period last year, with June arrival figure hitting a new high of 2.62 million, up 43.5%.

Board chairman James Tien said the recovering global economy has contributed to increase of travel propensity. It is also expected to sustain visitor arrivals' growth momentum in 2010.

"We saw not just significant year-on-year growth, but also a leap upward from the 2008 level in many market regions," Mr Tien said.

The board said it expects that the positive trend will continue into summer and visitor numbers to grow 20% to 25%.

“Unless the European debt crisis and the global economy worsen, a steady growth is likely to be maintained in the second half,” the Tourism Board said.