News from et-China.com is that shopping tours to Hong Kong are very popular at the end of the Chinese lunar year thanks to various promotions offered by Hong Kong.

The global financial crisis seems to have no effect on Hong Kong's shopping tourism. Statistics from et-China.com show that compared with January of 2008, the number of tourists going shopping in Hong Kong increased by about 40% and shopping tours are the most popular FIT products offered by Hong Kong.

Though some consumers have suspended their plan of going shopping in Hong Kong as a result of the global financial crisis, the unparalleled promotions offered by Hong Kong businesses' still have attracted many people to go there. According to tourists who've come back from shopping trips, they saw fewer European and American faces in Hong Kong, but more Chinese people were there purchasing the low-priced goods.

The Hong Kong Tourism Board launched Hong Kong Winter Fest during the New Year holiday to promote the region's tourism. In addition, businesses there also offered large discounts to attract consumers from the mainland. HKTB says that Causeway Bay, Tsim Sha Tsui and Mong Kok are the most popular shopping destinations for tourists; and cosmetics, clothes, clocks and jewelry are tourists' favorite purchases.

(China Hospitality News January 22, 2009)