2015年CRI Slight Growth in Tourists Not Benefit Retail Sector in HK

 

Hong Kong's Secretary of Commerce and Economic Development, Gregory So, says total arrivals climbed 1.5 percent year-on-year.

The number of mainland tourists increased by just 2.3-percent this year to around 1.1 million arrivals over the 7-day holiday on the mainland.

Gregory So says this seems to be a growing trend.

"The number seems to be steady, but there may be a change in visitors' consumption habit. The retail¹ sector² says their performance is not as good as it used to be. "

In September alone, the number of mainland tourists dropped by 4.6 percent.

Visitors into Hong Kong from neighboring Shenzhen were down by some 20-percent last month.

Officials are suggesting one of the main reasons is the current restrictions³ on one visit per week from Shenzhen, which came into effect almost half a year ago.

The National Day holiday, or the "Golden week", is normally a bonanza⁴ for Hong Kong retailers⁵, as it has traditionally seen millions of mainland tourists flood into the city.

However, Cantonese restaurant CEO Chan Po Wah says their business is down by some 20 to 30 percent this year.

"This year, we have fewer mainland customers. We used to prepare a lot to receive mainland tourists groups, for example, twenty groups from the mainland, and ten from South Korea, but now, the figure is the opposite. "

Commerce Secretary Gregory So says there are a number of factors behind this.

"On the exchange front, other currencies have depreciated⁶ a lot against RMB and HK dollars, so tourists tend to spend less here. Another reason is that other regions and countries have loosened their visa policies to attract more mainland tourists. Thirdly, of course, the unpleasant protests against mainland tourists also make them less willing to visit Hong Kong. "

The tourism in Hong Kong has slumped⁷ for the first time since 2009, with many hotels trying to lure⁸ visitors by cheaper prices.

At the same time, jewelry⁹ shops, pharmacies¹⁰, and cosmetic¹¹ stores are running almost empty in busy shopping areas, even during the holidays.

The travel industry in Hong Kong says it's working promotional campaigns, as well as developing new attractions.

For CRI, this is Li Jing in Hong Kong.

1 retail   

v./n.零售；adv.以零售价格

参考例句：

• In this shop they retail tobacco and sweets.这家铺子零售香烟和糖果。
• These shoes retail at 10 yuan a pair.这些鞋子零卖10元一双。

2 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

3 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

4 bonanza   

n.富矿带，幸运，带来好运的事

参考例句：

• Bargain hunters enjoyed a real bonanza today.到处买便宜货的人今天真是交了好运。
• What a bonanza for the winning ticket holders!对于手持胜券的人来说，这是多好的运气啊。

5 retailers   

零售商，零售店( retailer的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• High street retailers reported a marked increase in sales before Christmas. 商业街的零售商报告说圣诞节前销售量显著提高。
• Retailers have a statutory duty to provide goods suitable for their purpose. 零售商有为他们提供符合要求的货品的法定义务。

6 depreciated   

v.贬值，跌价，减价( depreciate的过去式和过去分词 )；贬低，蔑视，轻视

参考例句：

• Fixed assets are fully depreciated. 折旧足额。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Shares in the company have depreciated. 该公司的股票已经贬值。 来自辞典例句

7 slumped   

大幅度下降，暴跌( slump的过去式和过去分词 )； 沉重或突然地落下[倒下]

参考例句：

• Sales have slumped this year. 今年销售量锐减。
• The driver was slumped exhausted over the wheel. 司机伏在方向盘上，疲惫得睡着了。

8 lure   

n.吸引人的东西，诱惑物；vt.引诱，吸引

参考例句：

• Life in big cities is a lure for many country boys.大城市的生活吸引着许多乡下小伙子。
• He couldn't resist the lure of money.他不能抵制金钱的诱惑。

9 jewelry   

n.（jewllery）（总称）珠宝

参考例句：

• The burglars walked off with all my jewelry.夜盗偷走了我的全部珠宝。
• Jewelry and lace are mostly feminine belongings.珠宝和花边多数是女性用品。

10 pharmacies   

药店

参考例句：

• Still, 32 percent of the pharmacies filled the prescriptions. 但仍然有32%的药剂师配发了这两张药方。 来自互联网
• Chinese herbal pharmacies, and traditional massage therapists in the Vancouver telephone book. 中药店，和传统的按摩师在温哥华的电话簿里。 来自互联网

11 cosmetic   

n.化妆品；adj.化妆用的；装门面的；装饰性的

参考例句：

• These changes are purely cosmetic.这些改变纯粹是装饰门面。
• Laughter is the best cosmetic,so grin and wear it!微笑是最好的化妆品，所以请尽情微笑吧！