Overseas travel to Hong Kong has been relatively unaffected by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and the surge in fuel prices, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law said on Saturday.

She pointed to high-end visitors, in particular, being willing to travel and spend in the SAR.

"Although the global and political environment is quite turbulent, and there are wars in the Middle East, this situation highlights Hong Kong as a very safe, fun and convenient place to be," Law said in an RTHK programme.

"During this year's Art Basel event, we saw high-level collectors coming here from Europe, North America, and even the Middle East... They thought it was better to be in Hong Kong at this time."

Hong Kong saw 14 million arrivals in the first quarter of this year, up 17 percent a year ago.

Law said this month's Hong Kong Sevens rugby fest was expected to further boost tourism figures while the estimate for the number of visitors coming to the city during the Labour Day Golden Week holiday in May was one million.



Edited by Thomas McAlinden