Hong Kong’s economy received a significant boost from the city’s 25.25 million visitor arrivals last year, with inbound tourism expenditure rising to HK$117.3 billion (US$15 billion). In a statement, the Tourism Board said the contribution from inbound tourism to the economy in 2005 and 2006 should top forecasts by some HK$10 billion.

With the Hong Kong tourism sector focusing on high-yield visitor segments, arrivals to conventions and exhibitions in 2006 jumped 30 per cent over 2004. Arrivals by family visitors climbed 13 per cent, while visits by children aged 16 and under surged by 30 per cent.

Visitors from South Korea rose 11.9 per cent last year to 718,758; the United Kingdom (516,495, up 11.2 per cent); and the Philippines (454,036, up 16.1 per cent).
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