Hong Kong vies with Macau for Chinese tourists

Hong Kong, one of Asia's hottest destinations, hopes to welcome more than 30mn visitors in 2008 as mainland Chinese throng the city's shops and restaurants despite global stock market turmoil.

The tiny city of 7mn has as many visitors a year as Japan, Thailand and Singapore combined but is fending off a resurgent Macau.

It estimates it would take in 30.43mn visitors this year, more than half of those from China.

Tourists were also expected to spend 11% more this year than last, an estimated HK$152.7bn (US$19.6bn), according to a paper prepared by Hong Kong’s tourism promotion board.