Hong Kong is one of the most important tourism destinations in the Pacific Asia region for its unique landscape and shopping convenience. According to statistics, a total number of 41921310 people visited Hong Kong in 2011, that is 16.4% more compared to 2010 (Hong Kong Tourism Board 2012).Total tourism expenditure was 263142.71 million HK dollars and shopping accounts for most of them because it is the main purpose for individual visitors (Hong Kong Tourism Board 2012). Therefore, to sustain tourism prosperity while seeking development in the city, it is necessary to understand its unique geographical features and precisely examine the tourism trends. Meanwhile, analysing factors that have influenced tourism development will also contribute to the study.Besides, eco-tourism and climate issues are discussed as implications for the future.
2.0 Findings
2.1 Physical and human geography
2.1.1 Location
Hong Kong is a mountainous citylocatednearShenzhen, China.There are four main areas in the city, including Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, New territories and Outlying islands, and their area add up to 1100 square kilometres (Cullinane&Cullinane, 2003). For the reason of its unique landscape, approximately 40% of Hong Kong is built up as country parks (Cullinane&Cullinane, 2003).
2.1.2 Demography
The city enjoys of a population of 6.7 million, and it is growing at a rate of one million every ten years (Cullinane&Cullinane, 2003).
2.1.3 Political status
For over 150 years before 1997, Hong Kong had been governed by the British administration, and it became a part of People’s Republic of Chinaonce again on July 1st, 1997 (Cullinane&Cullinane, 2003). This reunification has brought opportunities and enormous changes in Hong Kong.
2.2 Pattern of tourism
2.2.1 Visitor arrivals
Figure 1Visitor Arrivals 2007 - 2011 (‘000) Source: (Hong Kong Tourism Board 2008, 2010, 2012)
Figure 1 shows the total number of visitors to Hong Kong in every
References: Khadaroo, J &Seetanah, B 2007, ‘Transport infrastructure and tourism development’, Annals of Tourism Research, Vol. 34, No. 4, pp. 1021–1032.