Hong Kong Citizens continue Spending Big on Travel ITE Hong Kong�s Annual Survey reveal Affluent Travelers� Preferences

HONG KONG, CHINA -�Media OutReach - 18
September 2018 - With 7.5 million people, Hong Kong named World’s 10^th
/ Asia’s 3^rd largest market by total international tourism spending
in 2016^(*1), but by capita spending ranked top among world’s 10
largest markets! Latest figures show the city continues spending more on
traveling abroad! 

 

In 2017, Hong Kong spent US$25.5 billion on
international tourism, up 5.8%! The city’s travel agents reported outbound
package tour business in the first half this year grew by 14.8%!^(*2)

 

Several popular destinations reported more
arrivals last year from Hong Kong. For examples, Japan had 21.3% more or 2.23
million, Thailand up 9.5% to 820,000, and Australia 13.8% more to 282,100.

 

FIT (free independent traveler) consistently dominate Hong Kong’s outbound, which again comfirmed by
survey in last June on public visitors of ITE Hong Kong, the city’s only
travel fair. Over 3000 replies were collected online and onsite, while
visitors in two public days totaled 90055.

 

ITE’s
public visitors are found to be mature (67% aged between 35 and 64); well
educated (university 42% & post secondary 32%); female outnumbering male by
three to two; overall, 84% prefer traveling in FIT or private
tours !  Many have multiple holidays in past year – 13% had 6 or more
holidays, 44% had 3 to 5, 40% had 1 to 2, and only 2.5% no holiday.

 

Their
outlook positive: 49% will spend more in next 12 months, 27% maintaining
and only 5% reduce spending! On destinations to visit within next two years,
54% picked East and North-east Asia, 42% South & South-east Asia, and 39%
Europe etc.

 

They
are keen on theme travel too! For examples, Culture & Historical, Gourmet
Tour, Cruise, Eco-tourism & Outdoor, Travel Photography and Driving Tour
each drew, in the last survey, over 30% positive responses etc.

 

Tech
savvy, 60% prefer book online directly with suppliers like airline and hotel
with 19% interest in joining tour at destination, while booking through online
travel agent is a lower figure of 50%, and an even lower 40% of booking with
traditional travel agent. Coincidentally 63% interest in booking holiday and
55% attending seminar in ITE. So realistic for foreign sellers dealing
directly with Hong Kong Affluent FIT !  

 

Combining
leisure and MICE travels, ITE Hong Kong 2018 was attended by 666 exhibitors
(87% from abroad and China) with some 180 present MICE products; and in two
trade days which require registration for admission, 12460 buyers and visitors
with 73% from Hong Kong and 21% from mainland China ; while by sectors
6580 from travel agents or operators and 2567 MICE or corporations.

 

Organized
by TKS Exhibition Services Ltd., supported by the Ministry
of Culture and Tourism of the People’s Republic of China and Hong Kong Tourism
Board, ITE Hong Kong
2019 (33rd ITE & 14th ITEMICE), will be held from June 13 to 16 at the Hong
Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre. 
Detail &
enquiry: www.itehk.com
or travel@tkshk.com.

Notes:     *1 — UNWTO World Tourism Barometer March 2017

               
*2 — Travel Industry Council Hong Kong Latest Tourism Statistics 11 July 2018