HK, Taiwan consumers more upbeat

Both markets recorded big jumps in the number of people feeling positive about the future in the market research firm's Asia-Pacific Consumer Confidence Survey. Hong Kong is the second most optimistic market in Asia, after India, with over two-thirds of Hong Kongers feeling their economy is improving. Although Taiwanese were not as positive the country experienced one of the biggest rises in the number of people feeling confident about the future. Three out of four Chinese surveyed felt their economy would continue to grow stronger. Bienvenido Niles, regional president for ACNielsen Asia-Pacific, said consumer confidence had increased in most Asian markets. "More people are looking optimistically to the future, as reflected by the growth in confidence levels compared to previous rounds of the survey," he said. The study contacted over 9,000 people across 13 Asian markets in May. The survey also revealed that Hong Kongers and Taiwanese are among the most likely people in Asia to travel, with three-quarters of people in Taiwan planning a trip in the next 12 months. Six out of 10 in Hong Kong said they intended to travel. Japan remained the most preferred destination. China and Thailand are the next most favoured. Concerns over terrorism, war and crime bother relatively few Hong Kongers, though they are among the most anxious about health and job security. Health is also a key worry in China. "Until a full recovery is assured and people start to personally benefit from such a recovery, consumers will find it difficult to put these concerns behind them."