HK malls strive for mainland shoppers

Source: China Daily | 02-01-2009 09:26

HONG KONG: Local shopping malls are leaving no stone unturned to attract cash-rich mainlanders to their stores during the Lunar New Year holidays.

Visitors take a rest in a shopping mall in Hong Kong January  30, 2009. [China Daily]

From producing and airing fashion programs on Beijing's TV channels to promoting their own brands on the mainland's radio stations, Hong Kong's retail market is going all out to ensure shoppers from the mainland fly down and dig deep into their pockets this festive season.

The Hong Kong Tourism Board said it expected a 10 percent increase in arrivals from the mainland during the Chinese New Year.

About 655,000 mainlanders visited Hong Kong during last year's spring break.

A total of 16.6 million people from the mainland went to Hong Kong in the whole of last year. The figure constituted about 55 percent of the total arrivals.

According to rough estimates, mainlanders comprise of 12 to 30 percent of the total customer base in local shopping malls.