The industry specific survey was conducted among 100 experienced Hong Kong-based overseas travel advisers and decision makers from leading multinational companies and travel agents to understand the expectations of the traveling public, the HKHA said.

According to the survey, some 41 percent of respondents said they would give a "yes" advice immediately if World Health Organization (WHO) lifts its travel advisory on Hong Kong; Another 42 percent of the respondents said that they would relax travel restrictions if there were no new SARS cases for ten consecutive days.

The WHO has said its conditions are: new cases to have fallen to below five a day, and active cases to 60; no exports of cases; and the mode of transmission to be understood.

"The result of the survey is encouraging and it tells us that the timing of our recovery is on the horizon. We must be well prepared for this," said Mark Lettenbichler, chairman of the HKHA.

The survey has also given pointers to what Hong Kong hotels can do now and after SARS to win back the confidence of international travelers.

Some 76 percent of the respondents said that hygiene would give them more confidence in advising their clients to travel to Hong Kong.

"The Association will take increased action to enhance communication regarding the additional hygiene efforts that have been put in place to reinforce guest confidence," said Lettenbichler.

Lettenbichler said that the HKHA has been taking additional steps to further improve international travelers' confidence by recommending member hotels to take body temperatures of hotel staff every day.

"We believe that temperature checks will give a greater sense of safety and hygiene to guests staying in our hotels," Lettenbichler said.

(Xinhua News Agency May 16, 2003)