The SARS outbreak saw the number of inbound travellers plunge 67.9% last month to 427,254, compared to the 1.33 million vistors welcomed in May last year.

However, the slippage eased to 59% in the last six days of the month after the WHO lifted its travel advisory on Hong Kong on May 23.

Hong Kong Tourism Board Executive Director Clara Chong said she expected to see a continued steady revival from now on, adding that the WHO's removal of Hong Kong from the list of SARS-affected areas will further boost recovery.

"We are already starting to see visitors coming back, especially from the Mainland, though other key markets like the US, UK, Southeast Asia, Korea, Taiwan and Australia are also showing gentle recovery," she said.

"Early indications are that the fall in June will be around 40%, which is a considerable improvement."

The board will launch the Hong Kong Welcomes You! campaign in mid-July to offer visitors a wide range of air and hotel promotions.

The board has also hosted some 500 overseas frontline travel trade staff and media to show them Hong Kong has bounced back so they can spread the message in their home countries.