1. Small and crowded Hong Kong
(A) Why do so many people travel abroad ?
5 main reasons:
Higher income
Longer holidays
Longer life
Good and improving communications between Hong Kong and other parts of the world
Small and crowded Hong Kong
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2. Hong Kong is one of the richest regions in the world.
Higher income
Hong Kong is one of the richest regions in the world.
People have high income.
In 1986, the average monthly income of a person was $2573.
In 1997, it jumped to $11113.
Many people have enough savings and can afford a trip abroad from time to time.
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3. The number of working hours per week is decreasing.
Longer holidays
The number of working hours per week is decreasing.
In 1980, the average working hours per week was 50. In 1988, it fell to 40.
People have more holidays.
Nowadays, most employees can enjoy a long holiday of seven days or more each year.
Thus, people have more time for travelling abroad.
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4. Hong Kong people have a longer life nowadays.
On average, a male can live up to 76;
whereas a female up to 81.
There are more retired people.
Retired people have more time to travel.
Among the Hong Kong people travelling abroad, there are many old retired people.
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5. Hong Kong citizens can travel abroad freely.
Good and improving communications between Hong Kong and other parts of the world
Hong Kong is one of the most important ports in the world as well as the focal point of many shipping routes.
Hong Kong has a modern international airport serving the airlines of many different countries.
Hong Kong is linked to the mainland China by good road and railway networks.
Hong Kong citizens can travel abroad freely.
Hong Kong tourists can go to any part of the world easily.
Most countries welcome Hong Kong tourists because of their good manners and high purchasing power.
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6. Small and crowded Hong Kong
Hong Kong is small and crowded.
Recreational facilities are relatively few in number.
Many people like to travel abroad for relaxation in holidays.
We can meet people from other places and learn about their culture.
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7. (B) What are the peak seasons for travelling abroad ?
The peak seasons are:
The summer vacations
The Christmas holiday
The Chinese New Year holiday
The Easter holiday
Reasons:
These are long public and school holidays.
People like to travel with their families.
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8. How much time for the trip
(C) How do we choose our tourist destinations ?
3 things should be considered:
Cost of the trip
How much time for the trip
Personal interests
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9. We have to consider how much money we want to spend on the trip.
Cost of the trip
We have to consider how much money we want to spend on the trip.
Some destinations may cost us more, some may cost us less. For example, a week in Japan would cost more than a week in the Philippines.
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10. How much time for the trip
We have to consider how much time we have for the trip.
A trip to a distant place takes a longer period than one to a nearby tourist spot.
For example, when travelling to Shenzhen, we need a day or two. But for Canada, we need at least a week.
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11. We have to consider what sorts of things we are most interested in.
Personal interests
We have to consider what sorts of things we are most interested in.
Some find busy cities interesting; others may prefer quiet mountains and beaches.
Some aim at learning about foreign cultures; others may be keen on shopping.
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12. (D) What are the most popular tourist destinations ?
Popular destination:
Mainland China, especially South China, is the most popular destination.
Southern Asia countries such as Thailand and the Philippines are also popular destinations.
USA, Canada and Europe may become more popular tourist destinations in the future.
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13. 4 reasons for South China being the most popular destination:
South China is very near to Hong Kong. Visiting a place in South China costs little and only takes short time.
The people in South China are our compatriots. There is no communication problems with the mainlanders.
Many Hong Kong people have friends and relatives in South China.
We can understand more about our country.
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14. Term to learn:
Peak travelling season - the busiest period of time for travelling abroad
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