The outlook for Hong Kong tourism looks positive with visitor arrival numbers up by 14.7 percent year on year to 19,331,181 people, according to report by Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB).

According to HKTB the figures indicate the country is well on course to reach its target of 38.93 million tourists for the full year, the Sun Herald reported.

Business Monitor International (BMI) has released the ‘Hong Kong Tourism Report Q4 2011, indicating mainland China remains the leading source market for the country.

The report found China has contributed 12.7 million tourists to Hong Kong over the last six months of 2011, an increase of 21.1 percent year on year.

Other domestic markets performing well include South Korea, up by 18.6 percent in H111 and Indonesia up by 24.3 percent.

Internationally, HKTB reported Russia as performing well, with arrival numbers up by over 50 percent in H111.

BMI remains optimistic about the outlook for inbound tourism to Hong Kong over the forecast period through to 2015, with China expected to remain the main source market for inbound tourists and expected to grow rapidly in the years to come.

Looking ahead, the BMI forecasting model estimates a five to six percent average annual increase over the next few years, leading to a total of 47.8 million visitors by 2015.