Hong Kong anticipates Olympic CEI traffic rise - Sep 01

HONG KONG The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) claims Beijing's 2008 Olympic win will bring significant benefits to Hong Kong by boosting corporate event travel business. However, HKTB general manager tourism and convention marketing Ms Ellen Kwan stressed it is still too early to put any figures on the level of business - particularly in the convention and exhibition sector - that could be generated. "We do not yet know whether all the events will be held in Beijing itself or whether some will be staged in other cities," she said. "It has even been speculated one or more events could be staged in Hong Kong." The HKTB will be looking at working closely with the trade to identify key target groups and develop Olympics packages that can be sold overseas, combining Beijing and Hong Kong. "The increased world-wide awareness of China as a destination should rub off on this sector," Ms Kwan added. "China's accession to the World Trade Organization is another factor likely to generate increased convention and exhibition business over the next few years." Ms Kwan agreed the hotel stock situation needed to be monitored closely over the next few years if visitor numbers are to grow. "There is already a substantial increase in hotel rooms planned between now and 2005, to accommodate the estimated 1.4 million extra visitors a year that will be generated by Hong Kong Disneyland," she said. l The China National Tourist Association (CNTA) has not yet forecast the effects of the Beijing Olympics on tourism, according to CNTA deputy division director for international relations Mr Zhang Xinhong.