The number of visitors to Hong Kong in January 2006 increased to 2.18 million, 15.6 percent more than the same period in 2005, Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) said Wednesday (Mar 1).

According to a press release from HKTB, in January, arrivals from the Chinese mainland grew to 1,324,888, 24.3 percent higher than that of the same month in 2005. Individual Visit Scheme arrivals numbered 697,950, 52.7 percent of all the Chinese mainland visitors and 49.6 percent more than that in January 2005.

The board's Executive Director Clara Chong said the rise reflects Hong Kong's growing appeal during the Lunar New Year period. It is also partly a result of packaging and promoting festive activities, like the International Chinese New Year Night Parade, worldwide.

Visitors from international markets rose 4.4 percent compared with that of January, 2005.

About 62.6 percent of visitors stayed one night or more, slightly less than the 64.4 percent registered in the same month in 2005. Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific had the highest percentage of overnight arrivals at 81.5 percent.

Hotel occupancy across all categories of hotels and tourist guesthouses was 85 percent, a three percentage-point fall on the figure of 2005. This partially reflects the 2.8 percent rise in Hong Kong's room supply during the past year.

Editor: Wing