Cathay Pacific expects rise in ME traffic
With the increasing air connectivity and visa-on-arrival facility to GCC nationals, Hong Kong expects a huge growth in the number of tourists from the Middle East.
“We are hopeful that many of those going on vacations in summer to European destinations would now prefer Hong Kong for their holidays,” said Tracy Kweong of Cathay Pacific, the de facto international flag carrier of Hong Kong.
She was speaking to journalists from Qatar, who were recently in Hong Kong on a joint invitation from the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) and Cathay Pacific.
“Besides being a world-class business destination, Hong Kong also has a number of exotic and beautiful tourist avenues,” explained Kweong.
She added: “The connectivity Cathay Pacific offers to such destinations as the cities in Australia and New Zealand for those coming from the Middle East and Asia would eventually help the airline attract more travellers from the Middle East.”
Plot of land turns breeding ground for insects
A plot of land located along a main road in Al Aziziya has become a cause for concern for residents as it is infested with insects and pose a health hazard, local daily Al Sharq has reported.
The land, which has nearly 3m high grass on it, is also the source of foul smell due to the accumulation of stagnant water there, the report stated.
Though this land is located along a main street, no remedial measure has been taken yet to deal with the problem, according to the report.
A resident said the plot had an old villa and it was decided to renovate it. The construction work stopped a long time ago and the excavated portion of the land was left unattended, allowing the grass to grow and water to accumulate.
The residents fear that the presence of insects can be a source of infections and diseases and have requested the authorities concerned to find a solution to the problem, beginning with the removal of waste from the plot and restricting entry to prevent its improper use.