Richard Miller, executive vice president of the World Travel and Tourism Council, said here at a press conference that the Chinese mainland, the world economy's second largest locomotive, is expected to become top factor for driving the tourism growth of Hong Kong in 2004.

He said Hong Kong travel and tourism industry is expected to produce nearly 9,000 new jobs in 2004 over its 2003 level to total 78,000 jobs.

He said the broader perspective of the travel and tourism economy (direct and indirect) is expected to create more than 30,000 new jobs for HK's economy.

Miller said travel and tourism is one of the most important employers in the region providing in 2004 one in every 11.2 jobs in Hong Kong, and one in 12.0 in the Chinese mainland.

He said Hong Kong industry is expected to benefit from strong Chinese traffic to post nearly HK$61.0 billion (US$7.9 billion) in total visit exports in Hong Kong, a gain of 19.4 percent on 2003 results.

He said in the Chinese mainland visitor exports are expected to grow 20.5 percent in 2004.

Miller said he had visited Hong Kong 10 times in the past 12 years and had observed significant changes made by Hong Kong tourism industry, describing it as "sophisticated."

He said Hong Kong has been striving to become Asia's world city and has been making great efforts for that aim.

He said in the past years, he witnessed the building of the new international airport which provides world class services and the ongoing Disney Land project will be another wise strategic choice of Hong Kong, which can meet diversified requirements of tourists, especially that of young people and children.

Miller said he expected Hong Kong to maintain a balanced tourism sourcing market.

Describing the Hong Kong Tourism Board as the world first class tourism promotion body, he said he is confident that the board could play an effective role in tourism promotion.

| China Travel Update |