THE HONG Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) has appointed Aviareps as its official trade and PR representative in Russia, in a bid to boost inbound numbers from the market.
“We are excited about the robust growth of the Russian market in recent years, which is now our fourth largest source market in Europe,” said Anthony Lau, executive director, HKTB. The NTO has been targeting Russia since 2008.
“Riding on Aviareps’ professional knowledge in the travel industry, HKTB will build even closer (ties) and partnerships with the trade and media in Russia,” Lau added.
Following the implementation of mutual visa-free access between Hong Kong and Russia in 2009, and a subsequent increase in direct flight connections, arrivals from Russia to Hong Kong hit 86,800 in 2010 (+102 per cent over 2009), and 131,537 the following year (+51.5 per cent).
In 1Q2012, over 50,000 Russians travelled to Hong Kong, a 72.3 per cent jump over the same period last year.
Meanwhile, HKTB is planning to launch a series of marketing initiatives in Moscow and St Petersburg, which will be expanded to other Russian cities in the future.
