The shortening of the "Golden Week" holiday on the mainland in May is expected to challenge the local travel industry, as well as provide it with opportunities, Commissioner of Tourism Au King-chi said on a radio program yesterday.

The central government announced in December that the May Day holiday, normally three days long, was being reduced to one day.

As a result, Au expects a drop in the number of long-distance tourists, such as those from northern China, but he said the shortened holiday may attract tourists from southern China.

Joseph Tung Yao-chung, executive director of the Travel Industry Council, also said he wasn't worried about the shortened holiday. And he expects the total number of tourists in May to rise.

He also said more visitors from the Pearl River Delta region may choose to spend their short holiday in Hong Kong.

The Federation of Hong Kong Hotel Owners said that hotel reservations for the coming May Day holiday is at about 80 percent.

It said the torch relay in Hong Kong on Friday will attract tourists from Guangdong province.

And Tung added that the weak Hong Kong dollar will be another strong appeal to mainlanders.

And the dispersion of tourists coming in at different times, Au Said, may make it a more pleasurable experience for them.

Usually, during "Golden Week", tourists take a heavy toll on the city's traffic and vacancy rate. But if they come at different times, the trip may be more enjoyable, Au explained.

She cited the white-collar mainland people as potential visitors, calling them a middle-class with strong spending power.

The Tourism Board has strengthened tourism promotions to this target group.

Editor: Yan