Visitor arrivals in April rose 11.9% compared with the same month last year, to 1,943,470, the Tourism Board says.

There were 7,413,380 arrivals in the first four months of the year, 11.1% higher than the same period last year.

All major regional markets showed growth over April 2004, with double-digit increases from the Americas (144,912, 17.5%), Europe, Africa & the Middle East (186,577, 30.9%), Australia, New Zealand & the South Pacific (52,753, 30.8%) and South & Southeast Asia (215,337, 19.1%).

Mainland arrivals rose 8.6% to 987,091, and those from North Asia by 8.5% to 137,636. There were 183,531 visitors from Taiwan, up 3.8%.

On target

The board's Executive Director Clara Chong said the continued strong demand for travel from most regional and long-haul markets is keeping Hong Kong on track to meet its forecast of 7.3% for the year.

Ms Chong said the recent unveiling of the 2006 Discover Hong Kong Year campaign to more than 250 leaders of the global travel trade and media should bring better opportunities to the tourism industry.

In April, 59.8% of all visitors stayed one night or longer, compared with 61.2% in April 2004. The remaining 40.2% were classified as "same-day in-town" visitors.

Hotel occupancy across all categories of hotels and guesthouses was the same as the 2004 figure at 86%. The highest tariff hotels averaged 85% occupancy, while those in the second and third tiers recorded 85% and 88%.