Hong Kong welcomed 1,688,300 visitor arrivals in September, taking total visitor arrivals for the first nine months past the 15.7 million mark, exceeding the figure for all of last year.

The Tourism Board said September's figure is 14.2% higher than the same month last year, and 23.2% up on 2002.

In the first nine months, Hong Kong welcomed 15,758,092 arrivals, up 52.1% on the same period last year and 34.2% on 2002.

The board's Executive Director Clara Chong said it is encouraging to see such a consistent pattern of recovery.

Most visitors Mainlanders

The Mainland in September contributed 912,723 arrivals, 54.1% of the total for all markets. This represents 19.8% growth on the same month last year. In the first nine months Hong Kong welcomed 8,979,475 Mainlanders, 59.3% more than last year.

The Americas continues to lead the long-haul markets with 106,908 arrivals in September, 15.6% growth on the same month last year.

Europe, Africa and the Middle East was close behind with 103,240 arrivals, 13.4% more than last year. And Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific continues to be the best performing of three long-haul market regions with a 28.3% year-on-year increase to 43,960.

In the short-haul markets, arrivals from North Asia are maintaining their steady recovery with 160,419 September arrivals, 25.3% more than the same month last year. The 115,749 arrivals from Japan (+21.9%) were the highest monthly total seen from this market since January last year.

South and Southeast Asia recorded 155,769 arrivals, 4.4% up on last year.

84% occupancy rate

In September, 60.6% of all visitors stayed one night or longer, close to the 60.9% recorded in September last year. The remaining 39.4% were classified as "same-day in-town" visitors, departing for another destination on the same day as arrival.

The average occupancy rate across all categories of hotels and tourist guesthouses in September was 84%. This is the highest September figure since 1996, and two percentage points higher than for the same months in 2002 and 2003. Top tariff hotels averaged 83% occupancy, while those in the second tier recorded 86%.

Cumulatively for the first nine months of the year, average occupancy now stands at 86%, compared with 63% for the same period last year and 82% in 2002.