Beijing sees tourism numbers rise as Hong Kong attracts fewer Mainlanders

BEIJING - Officials from THE Beijing Municipal Commission of Tourism Development (BCTD) say the northern capital raked in a total of RMB460.7 billion (US$71 billion) in tourism revenue last year, hosting a total of 273 million tourists, up from 261 million tourists in 2014. Officials point to a tax rebate scheme for overseas visitors in July 2015 as a possible cause for this growth.

By the end of 2015, the city had sold tax refund commodities worth RMB22.3 million with rebates of RMB2.45 million. For 2016, the commission says it will focus on improving services in eight major destinations, including the Great Wall, Tian’anmen Square and Olympic Park. Additionally, the city will expand its tax rebate scheme and maintain the 72-hour visa-free stay for international transit passengers, according to Commission spokespersons.

Meanwhile, Hong Kong’s travel industry continues to suffer from the negative impact of local disputes and competition from other destinations.

During the most recent Spring Festival Holiday, only 120 mainland tour groups visited Hong Kong per day, a 70% drop compared to last year’s figure of 380.

Hong Kong Travel Industry Council Executive Director Joseph Tung Yiu-chung said he believed it was the “sharpest decrease in more than decade” and predicted the situation was unlikely to improve in the short term.

Local hotelier Michael Li noted an “immediate drop” in local hotel occupancy rates following riots in the shopping area of Monkok.  www.webershandwick.cn (ATI).