Visitor arrivals to Hong Kong in April 2001 totaled 1,178,562, a 3.1 percent increase over the same period in 2000, according to the Hong Kong Tourism Board Wednesday.

This maintains the pattern of moderate growth seen in the year to date, with cumulative arrivals for January to April 2001 totaling 4,375,598, up 6.5 percent over the first four months of last year.

While arrivals from Japan and South Korea and the Americas were especially encouraging in April, showing growth of 13.7 percent and 5.8 percent respectively,most European source markets showed a slight decline due to continuing economic concerns and the current low value of the euro.

Nevertheless, regional sentiment towards Hong Kong as a destination remains extremely positive.

A recent survey among Asian readers of Time and Fortune magazines shows that Hong Kong is given the highest ranking among 10 Asian destinations for tourism, with 72 percent of readers rating it "good" or "excellent," ahead of Japan and Thailand.

(Xinhua 06/06/2001)