In June alone, a major increase in arrivals -- of 70.0 percent -- was recorded from Mainland China. This can be attributed primarily to the low base recorded for June last year when travel restrictions to Hong Kong from the Mainland were introduced and in force during the pre- and post-handover period.

Other markets/market regions showing growth in June included Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific, from where arrivals rose by 6.9 percent during the month.

Individual markets showing growth in June were Australia (up by 7.6 percent), Singapore (up by 7.6 percent) and New Zealand (up by 4.2 percent). North Asia continued to show the effects of economic turmoil, with June arrivals from the region down by 24.1 percent. Arrivals for the month from Japan were down by 15.7 percent and those from South Korea by 51.9 percent.

The largest drop in arrivals from individual markets in June was recorded by Thailand (down by 61.0 percent), due to a continuing poor economy and a doubling of the departure tax, and Indonesia (down 58.3 percent), caused by the recent political and economic turmoil in that country.

Over the six-month period, markets that showed growth were Canada (up 0.9 percent) and New Zealand (up 1.8 percent).

Again, over the six-month period, the North Asia region registered the largest drop (of 52.2 percent), with arrivals from Japan down 50.1 percent and those from South Korea down by 60.7 percent. The HKTA expects that arrivals for the whole of this year will be down by about 6 percent on last year and total less than 10 million.