People wear face masks as they visit a promenade on the Kowloon side of Victoria Harbour, which faces the skyline of Hong Kong Island, in Hong Kong on July 13, 2020. (ANTHONY WALLACE / AFP)

HONG KONG - The provisional figure for visitor arrivals to Hong Kong in July was around 20,600, a drop of almost 100 percent from the same time last year, the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) announced Friday.

According to the figures released by the HKTB, between January and July, visitor arrivals declined by over 91 percent year on year to less than 3.54 million

According to the figures released by the HKTB, between January and July, visitor arrivals declined by over 91 percent year on year to less than 3.54 million.

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While the situation of the global COVID-19 pandemic remains unpredictable, the HKTB has been continuously engaging trade partners in source markets, said HKTB Chairman Pang Yiu-kai.

Pang said that since March, the HKTB has organized nearly 90 online seminars, which were attended by about 10,000 trade representatives from the mainland and overseas markets.

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The HKTB has also invited insiders from local travel agencies, airlines, hotels and attractions to share their views to allow trade partners from different source markets to better understand the development of the pandemic and virus control measures in Hong Kong, the board's strategy for recovering the tourism industry, and support for tourism-related industries, said Pang.

The tourism board said from August onwards, it will host at least 45 online seminars, which are expected to attract 4,500 members in industries.

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