Business receipts in almost every service industry surged in the second quarter, with hotel business up 190.4%.

The Census & Statistics Department said the surge was largely attributable to growth in inbound tourism, and a relatively low base of comparison in the second quarter last year when inbound tourism was hit by SARS.

Business receipts of the financing (except banking), transport and insurance industries rose 41.9%, 34.9% and 28.7%. The increases were fuelled by brisk stock market trading, rapid growth in maritime and air transport services, and expansion in the life insurance business.

Other services recording increases were the storage (up 24.8%), restaurant (21.4%), wholesale and retail trade (16.9%), import-export trade (15.8%), film entertainment (15.4%), business service (9.9%) and real estate (4.9%) industries.

Analysed by service domain, business receipts of the tourism, convention and exhibition services domain surged 141.7%, again attributable largely to growth in inbound tourism.

Business receipts of the computer and information services domain rose 18.6%.

Comparing the second and first quarters, larger increases in business receipts were recorded in the import-export trade (up 14.6%) and transport (10.4%) industries. However, larger decreases were recorded in the real estate (-15.2%) and financing (except banking) (-10.4%) industries.