Last year's visitor arrivals to Hong Kong hit a record high of 28.2 million, up 11.6% on 2006, the Tourism Board says. It noted Mainland visitors had passed the 15-million mark for the first time, reaching 15.5 million, up 13.9% on 2006.

Mainland visitors accounted for 55% of the 2007 total. Non-Mainland arrivals also registered an 8.8% gain, reaching 12.7 million.

All long- and short-haul market regions showed positive gains last year. Europe, Africa and the Middle East led the field, with arrivals rising 14.2% to 2.2 million. This was followed by Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific, with arrivals up 13.4% to 756,964. Arrivals from the US also rose 9.4%, to 1.8 million.

For the short-haul markets, South and Southeast Asia enjoyed a solid gain of 8.6% to become Hong Kong's second-largest source market region. Promotions targeting the young and family segments - jointly launched by the board and the travel trade during the year - helped contribute to this rise. 

Among individual markets, South Korea and the Philippines - which have been identified as high-potential markets - achieved the highest growth rate at 21.9% and 21.8%. The Middle East region, earmarked as an emerging market in the board's 2008-09 work plan, achieved overall growth of 23.7%, with some countries enjoying increases of as much as 40%.

Last year, 60.9% of the visitors stayed overnight, lower than the 62.7% who did so in 2006. The average hotel occupancy rate was 86%, one percentage point lower over 2006, in spite of the 9.3% rise in Hong Kong's room supply in the year.

Hotels in Yau Ma Tei and Mong Kok achieved the highest average occupancy in the year, at 90%. The average achieved hotel room rate was $1,215, up 11.4% on 2006.