The recent political demonstrations and protests in Hong Kong have not altered Chinese tourists' travel plans, according to Chinese travel website Qunar.com, reports The Wall Street Journal.

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Hong Kong was still the most popular destination outside of the mainland during the national holiday in early October. According to Qunar.com, there was a 67 percent increase in Hong Kong-bound flight bookings compared to the same time last year. The so-called Pearl of the Orient came ahead of Taipei, Seoul, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur as the most popular destination in the region.

However, Hong Kong wasn't the only destination seeing an increase in Chinese tourists. The China National Tourism Administration's (CNTA) reported that travelers to Macau increased 17 percent, while mainland visitors to Taiwan jumped by more than 50 percent this year. The most popular destinations outside of the continent were New York, Los Angeles and Paris. Fewer entry prohibitions, and more flights to popular destinations are attributed to the increase travel>

Approximately 475 million Chinese traveled during the national holiday week this year, an 11% increase from the same period last year, according to the CNTA. Tourism revenue was 245 billion yuan ($40 billion), an almost 16% increase from the previous year.

However, despite the increase in Chinese visitors to Hong Kong, they weren't spending as much as previous years. The Hong Kong Retail Management Association, a trade group for retailers, reported a sales decline that ranged from 15% to 50% for its members during the first five days of the holiday.

Tagstourism, Hong Kong, protests, Demonstrations, China National Tourism Administration, Qunar