The number of people from the Chinese mainland visiting the city climbed 12.4 percent to 1.1 million, the association said on Saturday. Tourists from the Philippines and Indonesia showed the strongest growth in numbers, surging 37 percent and 18 percent respectively.

    Travel to Hong Kong from China is expanding as the central government adds cities to the Individual Visit Scheme, which allows people to visit the city individually, rather than as part of tourist groups.

    The tourism board forecasts a record 27 million visitors this year, with the number boosted by new attractions such as Hong Kong Disneyland, which opened in September 2005, and overseas promotional campaigns. The average cost of a hotel room in Hong Kong increased 16 percent from a year earlier to HK$1,264 (US$163) a night.

    (Source: Shanghai Daily)