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The Planning Department today (October 4) published "Northbound Southbound 2011", which presents the results of the Cross-boundary Travel Survey 2011.
Passenger trips
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The results of the 2011 survey revealed that a daily average of 616,500 cross-boundary passenger trips were made during the survey period, representing a growth of 12 per cent over the 2009 survey. Among these trips, 91 per cent were passenger trips between Hong Kong and the Mainland, and the other 9 per cent were between Hong Kong and Macau.
Cross-boundary passenger trips between Hong Kong and the Mainland made by people living in Hong Kong took up the largest share, constituting 61 per cent of all passenger trips between Hong Kong and the Mainland. Another 24 per cent were made by visitors from the Mainland, 13 per cent by Hong Kong residents living in the Mainland and 2 per cent by people living in other places.
For trips between Hong Kong and the Mainland made by people living in Hong Kong, some 49 per cent were for leisure purposes, followed by visiting relatives and friends (22 per cent) and for business (16 per cent). Shenzhen remained the most common trip destination, accounting for 77 per cent of trips.
About 69 per cent of visitors from the Mainland came to Hong Kong under the Individual Visit Scheme, including 43 per cent using one-entry or two-entry endorsements and 26 per cent using multiple-entry endorsements. Regarding trip purpose, 69 per cent of Mainland visitors came to Hong Kong for leisure, 15 per cent to visit relatives and friends and 10 per cent for business.
For trips made by Hong Kong residents living in the Mainland, 89 per cent started from Shenzhen. They mainly travelled back to Hong Kong for work (32 per cent), schooling (24 per cent) and leisure (19 per cent).
The 2011 survey found that there were 702,800 frequent cross-boundary travellers who usually travelled at least once a week between Hong Kong and the Mainland, representing an increase of 5 per cent when compared with the 2009 survey.
Apart from passenger trips between Hong Kong and the Mainland, the survey also collected information on passenger trips between Hong Kong and Macau. The average daily number of passenger trips between Hong Kong and Macau increased by 16 per cent from the 2009 survey to reach 54,100 in the 2011 Survey. About 62 per cent of these trips were made by people living in Hong Kong.
Vehicle trips
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In the 2011 survey, there was a daily average of 44,300 cross-boundary vehicle trips recorded at the road crossings, representing an increase of 3 per cent compared to the 2009 survey. Trips by private cars constituted the largest share of vehicle trips (42 per cent), followed by goods vehicles (29 per cent) and container trucks (21 per cent).
Further information
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The Cross-boundary Travel Survey 2011 collected statistical information about the patterns of cross-boundary trips as well as the socio-economic profiles of the trip makers. It provides reference data for bureaux/departments and other stakeholders to better understand cross-boundary travel activities, information which is crucial for the planning of work relating to cross-boundary transport infrastructure, community- and tourism-related facilities.
The 2011 survey was conducted at 11 immigration control points from October 28 to November 10, 2011. A total of 55,700 passengers and 16,200 drivers were interviewed.
The publication Northbound Southbound 2011 as well as statistical tables containing detailed findings from the 2011 and previous Cross-boundary Travel Surveys have been uploaded onto the website of the Planning Department (www.pland.gov.hk). Members of the public can access the publication and the tables at www.pland.gov.hk/pland_en/p_study/comp_s/nbsb2011/index.html.
Ends/Thursday, October 4, 2012
Issued at HKT 15:30
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