The number of mainland tour groups visiting Hong Kong this week for the National Day 'golden week' holiday is down between 20 per cent and 30 per cent compared to a year ago although the increase in individual mainland travellers more than offsets the decline, travel agents said.
Travel Industry Council executive director Joseph Tung Yao-chung said the economic doldrums likely contributed to the drop in numbers. He said total arrivals were expected to record a slight year-on-year increase. Last week the government said an estimated 6.71 million people would enter Hong Kong in the seven days between National Day and the Chung Yeung festival on Tuesday, a rise of about 7 per cent year on year.
On Monday, 85,972 mainland visitors arrived in Hong Kong while 94,269 came on Tuesday. Total arrivals reached 330,901 and 351,456, respectively.
The government said it expected cross-boundary traffic to be heavy with about 2.7 million people passing through the Lo Wu control point between September 29 and October 8. About 155,000 people were expected to arrive via Lo Wu yesterday. At Lok Ma Chau, about 1.22 million people were expected to pass through during the 10-day period with yesterday being the busiest day for incoming visitors, the government said.
Charles Ng Kwong-wai, chairman of the Hong Kong Inbound Tour Operators' Association, said he expected a 10 per cent drop in mainland tours over the holiday period and warned that falling visitor numbers could continue for the rest of this year.
'Chinese tour group numbers have been flat or falling over the past few years but there is a concern this trend will continue in October, November and December and hurt the Hong Kong economy,' Mr Ng said.
