Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) has warmly welcomed the extension of the Individual Visit Scheme for mainland residents to the entire Guangdong Province with effect from May 1 and nine cities in Fujian, Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces with effect from July 1.

Selina Chow, chairman of the HKTB, said late Tuesday that the extension will increase the growth momentum of the Chinese mainland market.

She said with the extension of the Individual Visit Scheme, more mainland visitors will able to visit Hong Kong flexibly, thereby reducing the congestion during the peak arrival periods such as the Labor day and National Day golden week holidays.

Chow said, capitalizing on the extension, Hong Kong will actively develop further business opportunities through close cooperation with the travel trade.

The HKTB has been laying the groundwork for welcoming the individual visitors from these cities. By utilizing the additional government funding, the board will strengthen publicity for individual visits in these cities, increase the dissemination of travel information, and enhance residents' knowledge of Hong Kong to enable them to plan their itineraries.

(Xinhua News Agency April 21, 2004)