Cooperation in travel trade between Hong Kong and China's northern city of Tianjin was further reinforced when tourism heads of the two cities signed a tourism agreement in Hong Kong, a press release issued in Hong Kong today by the Hong Kong Tourism Board said.

The agreement, signed on March 28,was part of the "Tianjin Week" trade fair in Hong Kong which ended April 3,when a 500-strong delegation from Tianjin, led by the city's vice mayor, WangShuzu, unveiled more than 200investment projects.

The signing of the agreement was intended to enhance the two cities' competitiveness in the international tourism market and reinforce Hong Kong's position as the preferred gateway to the Chinese mainland, the Hong Kong Tourism Board said.

Under the agreement, the two cities will hold trade missions and meetings to further the information exchange and cooperation between industry professionals in the two cities as well as organize workshops, study and familiarization tours, training courses and other programs in Hong Kong.

The two will share tourism statistics such as visitor arrival figures, source market, hotel occupancy and average rooms rates and annual reports. Besides, the two will also capitalize on the Internet in the provision of consumer information, news resources and e-commerce, and provide active mutual support with regard to issues such as tourism strategies and the development of new projects.

The Chinese mainland is both an important source market for Hong Kong and a popular complementary destination. Hong Kong has been co-operating closely with the mainland tourism administrations for years to ensure the industry take full advantage of its position as the gateway to the Chinese mainland.

(Eastday.com 04/04/2001)