Hong Kong’s short-haul visitor arrivals plunged 15 per cent in June despite overall growth, as higher fuel costs linked to the Middle East conflict reduced flight capacity and weaker regional currencies dampened travel demand, the tourism board said.The Hong Kong Tourism Board said on Thursday the city received 3.72 million visitors last month, up 7 per cent from a year earlier, driven largely by a 10 per cent rise in mainland Chinese arrivals to 2.88 million.But the number of non-mainland visitors fell 4 per cent to 837,962, with the decline in short-haul travellers partially offset by a 16 per cent increase in long-haul arrivals to 277,034.The board attributed the decline to elevated aviation fuel costs, which prompted some airlines to cut capacity, as well as currency depreciation in short-haul markets against the Hong Kong dollar.Fuel prices surged following the outbreak of the US-Israeli war on Iran, forcing carriers across Asia to raise fares, impose surcharges, suspend routes or trim capacity.Malaysia-based budget carrier AirAsia cut 10 per cent of its capacity and suspended underperforming routes at the height of the fuel crisis, although it expects to fully restore capacity by the end of August.While jet fuel prices have retreated from an April peak, they have edged up again in recent weeks.