Mega events in HK to facilitate early planning of products within industry: tourism leader

The calendar of mega events in Hong Kong in the second half of 2024, announced by the government on Tuesday (May 21), is set to facilitate early planning of related products within the tourism industry.

Timothy Chui, Executive Director of The Hong Kong Tourism Association, stated today (May 22) that some of the events, like the exhibition about late HK lyricist James Wong Jim, which will be held at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum from July to February next year, are innovative and attractive.

He suggested that the tourism industry should deploy related travel products in advance, as many tourists are interested in Hong Kong's culture.

Regarding the government's intention to preserve and recreate some parts of the set in the film Kowloon Walled City, Chui said the film is quite popular in the Chinese-speaking community, and it has also reached Japan because the Japanese are curious about Kowloon Walled City.

If some parts of the set can be displayed, we can involve more interactive activities by having visitors enjoy fish ball noodles, rice with roasted meat, and even make fish balls themselves, he added.

The calendar also includes 15 sports events, among which the "2024 World Lacrosse Women's U20 Championship" and the "WBSC Baseball5 World Cup 2024" will be held in Hong Kong for the first time in August and October, respectively.

Lau Wing-chung, a professor from the Department of Sports, Physical Education and Health at the Hong Kong Baptist University pointed out that most Hong Kong people may be unfamiliar with the rules of these sports, so the government should step up the publicity work.

"To develop sports tourism, it is necessary for us to play a leading role and make good use of Hong Kong's unique landmarks, natural spaces, and cultural history," he said.