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Tourist arrivals in Hong Kong touch 1.9 million in July
MUMBAI: Hong Kong is the flavour of the season as a tourist destination and the record 1.99-million visitor count the country has recorded for July 2004 underlines the fact. Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) has announced that visitor arrivals in July soared to 1,990,705 – the highest ever recorded in a single month.
This is nearly 200,000 more than the previous highest monthly total of 1,792,698 in December 2003 and over 600,000 more than the previous best July figure, recorded in 2002, claimed the board.
According to an official release, this strong performance is especially notable as July has not traditionally been a peak month. Key contributory factors were the appeal of the Hong Kong Shopping Festival and continued growth in individual visitors from Mainland China. The result represents 54.1 per cent growth compared to July 2003, when Hong Kong was starting its recovery from sars, and 45.4 per cent growth in July 2002.
HKTB executive director Chong said that the Hong Kong shopping festival was proving effective in luring more visitors and nearly 2.27 million arrivals had been recorded between the festival’s start on 26 June and the end of July. “As the whole of August is still to be added in, we can be confident of exceeding our 3.7-million arrivals target for the full festival period,” she said. “Early figures indicate that August will be another very strong month, so it’s clear that the efforts we’ve been making since 2002 to promote summer shopping in Hong Kong are turning the summer months into another peak period for tourism.
“With more than 6,500 shops and restaurants participating citywide, and a strong promotional emphasis being put on late-night shopping, dining and entertainment, the Festival is not only attracting more visitors but is also stimulating their spending and enjoyment,” added Chong.
For the first seven months of 2004 to date, total arrivals now stand at 12,003,323, 65.8 per cent ahead of the same period in 2003 and 35.3 per cent ahead of the 2002 figure.
Average occupancy rate across all categories of hotels and tourist guest houses in July was 92 per cent. This is the highest July figure since 1988 and it significantly improves on the 71 per cent recorded in July 2003, when the city’s tourism industry was still recovering from the Sars crisis, and 82 per cent in July 2002. Top tariff hotels averaged 86 per cent occupancy while those in the second tier reached 95 per cent.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
