HONG KONG Hong Kong s tourism marketing body reports that the growth of the industry is expected to ease this year, partly because of stiffer competition from other destinations. Arrivals this year are still expected to set a new record of 14.075 million visitors, but the 7.8% growth in arrivals forecast for the year would be lower than last year s surge of tourists. A total of 13.06 million visitors arrived here in 2000, which was a 15.3% jump over the previous year.
Hong Kong Tourist Association (HKTA) Chairman Selina Chow said that the associations forecasts for 2001 are “cautious.” (2/14/01) SOURCE:Reuters