UAE FASTEST GROWING TOURISM MARKET IN HONG KONG

United Arab Emirates and Hong Kong – June 2005 - Tourist arrivals from the United Arab Emirates and the region to Hong Kong recorded an increase of %41.7 this year, making the Middle East the fastest growing tourism market, the Hong Kong Tourism Board revealed yesterday.

According to Hong Kong Tourism Board, the city’s offerings on a wide range of luxuries hotels, shopping centers, Entertainment Parks and strategic promotional initiatives in the Middle Eastern region has resulted in a marked interest in Hong Kong as a destination hotspot, made apparent by the increasing tourist inflow. Hong Kong International Airport was named the World’s Best Airport for the fifth straight year, in a survey conducted by London-based Skytrax Research. The 2005 Hong Kong Shopping Festival, taking place from 15 June until the end of August, also promises to be a spectacular event, offering special promotions and themed events throughout the summer months.

"Hong Kong offers a unique experience to all who visit, providing a distinctive blend of East and West in a dynamic city not dissimilar to Dubai", said an Al Naboodah travel executive. He went on to add, "Hong Kong has a lot to offer UAE residents, local as well as expat, in terms of not only luxury and comfort, but shopping and entertainment".

"2005 is a very successful year in terms of the success of our continued efforts to promote the expansion of the tourism industry in Hong Kong and in making this vibrant city the number one family and leisure destination for UAE residents. In order to cope with the high demand, we have already increased our weekly flights to Hong Kong and will continue to offer a superior quality of products and services" comments by Philip Herbert, Country Manager UAE and Oman for Cathay Pacific Airways, the airline for Hong Kong.

Cathay Pacific was recently announced as the Airline of the Year, in the world’s largest passenger poll carried out by Skytrax. As part of their continuous commitment to providing the utmost in quality services and products, the airline has initiated a special holiday promotion whereby passengers flying to select Cathay Pacific destinations via Hong Kong will be offered 2 free nights stay, allowing them to experience first-hand the sights and sounds of Cathay’s spectacular home, at no extra cost. Cathay Pacific currently flies 13 times a week between Dubai and Hong Kong, with 7 direct flights, 2 services via Bahrain and 4 services via Mumbai and Bangkok.