( dpa ) - Hong Kong will welcome a record 30 million visitors in 2008, 8 per cent more than in 2007, the territory's tourism board predicted Saturday.
Releasing its projections for the year ahead, the Hong Kong Tourism Board said it expected 30.43 million visitors to spend 19.5 billion US dollars, 10 per cent more than in 2007.
More than half of the visitors - 16.76 million - are expected to come from mainland China, which has provided most of Hong Kong's visitors since cross-border travel restrictions were eased in 2003.
Hong Kong welcomed a record 28 million visitors in 2007 and has seen visitor numbers climb dramatically in the last four years, largely from growth in arrivals from mainland China.
Hong Kong, which has a population of 6.9 million, will host the equestrian part of the 2008 Beijing Olympics in August and expects many visitors on their way to and from the games in China.