SAR residents are becoming more adventurous and agents are expecting new offbeat package destinations to take off this year, according to Richard Willis, chairman (outbound) for the Hong Kong Association of Travel Agents (HATA).
Last year saw more locals taking short-haul holidays, with lower package deal prices making the market extremely competitive, Willis says.
China in particular saw a big increase in visitors from the SAR and Willis believes the region will get a boost this year with more expats coming to Hong Kong to work in connection with China's acceptance into the World Trade Organisation. They'll take the opportunity to explore the countries around them.
Chinese travellers are becoming more independent, and many are now confident enough in their ability to speak English to make their own way, says Willis, who recalls that Manila and Bangkok used to be the main destinations for locals.
So where will they be heading this year? 'They are looking towards exotic destinations like Iran and Syria, whose governments are working hard to promote tourism,' says Willis.
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has badly hit tourism in surrounding countries, but travel agents say tourists are not being targeted. Gulf Air recently offered to take journalists from Hong Kong to the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria in an effort to prove their point. If the upcoming peace talks are successful, then tour operators expect a tourism boom in that region this year.