Opinion | Utilize resources for interconnected development to accelerate revival of tourism in HK

Secretary of the Cultural, Sports and Tourism, Rosanna Law, stated at the Legislative Council yesterday that the SAR government will promote 18 district tourism projects next year. Among them, the improvement project along the coast of Lei Yue Mun will be completed by the end of January next year, providing tourists with a scenic and distinctive route. Promoting district-specific tourism reflects the SAR government's high regard for and full implementation of the concept of "Tourism is everywhere in Hong Kong," making good use of regional tourism resources, connecting development, creating innovative tourism projects, and expanding the depth and breadth of tourism in Hong Kong. The SAR government and the industry must vigorously promote Hong Kong tourism externally to attract more visitors to Hong Kong to experience a rich and diverse new tourism experience and accelerate the comprehensive revival of tourism in Hong Kong.

Xia Baolong, Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office, previously pointed out that Hong Kong should establish the concept of "Tourism is everywhere in Hong Kong," fully explore Hong Kong's abundant tourism resources, actively learn from successful experiences elsewhere, innovate thinking, optimize policies, promote the participation of various sectors of society, and vigorously develop new tourism routes and products. 

The concept inspires Hong Kong to create new highlights in tourism with innovative thinking, promoting high-quality development of the tourism industry in Hong Kong. The SAR government has established the "Working Group on Developing Tourist Hotspots" led by the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration to collect suggestions on tourism hotspots in various districts through the District Offices of the 18 districts, select projects with new ideas, attractiveness, and feasibility, and then bring together private sector forces and resources to work on them, leading to a transformation in the development of the tourism industry in Hong Kong.

For a long time, visitors to Hong Kong mainly focused on shopping and traditional attractions around Victoria Harbour, Disneyland, Ocean Park, and other theme parks. In recent years, However, the tourism consumption patterns of visitors have changed, with more young tourists keen on experiential tourism, hoping for richer cultural connotations and participation. The Hong Kong tourism industry must also proactively adapt to these changes.

As an international metropolis with a blend of Chinese and Western cultures, all 18 districts in Hong Kong have rich tourism resources, including vast country parks in the New Territories, wonderful coastal scenery on the outlying islands, and numerous historical buildings in the rural areas of the New Territories. These cultural and tourism resources, when properly developed and supplemented, can greatly enhance the experience for visitors to Hong Kong.

The improvement project along the coast of Lei Yue Mun is one of these highlights. The improved Lei Yue Mun will provide tourists with a scenic and distinctive route, combining seafood delicacies to offer a new experience for visitors. In addition, the SAR government is in discussion with the industry to expand water taxi routes, allowing visitors to not only enjoy the beautiful scenery but also deeply experience Hong Kong's local culture.

According to the plan of the Working Group, the next step will be to explore the unique tourism resources of different regions in a targeted manner. For example, the area around Lei Yue Mun can be combined with tourist resources such as the Kwun Tong Promenade and the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal in East Kowloon to create a seaside promenade that integrates shopping, sightseeing, leisure, and entertainment, forming a new seaside-themed tourist belt, injecting vitality into surrounding industries such as dining, retail, transportation, and services, allowing local residents to share in the abundant dividends of tourism. This tourism development model, combining regional characteristics, creating tourism "checkpoints," enriching tourism projects, and empowering the tourism industry with distinctive regional features, is worth promoting and extending.

Unique tourism products and projects require effective promotion to attract visitors to come and leave satisfied. In the era of imformation, promoting Hong Kong tourism must keep pace with the times and utilize new technologies and new media. Government departments and the tourism industry should not stick to traditional promotional methods such as creating web pages and running advertisements but should actively engage on social media, invite industry professionals and media from home and abroad to experience Hong Kong firsthand, and invite social media influencers with a large following to experience Hong Kong in person, vividly showcasing the charm of Hong Kong's distinctive tourism.

Although Hong Kong is small in size, it is an international tourist city that is beautiful and comprehensive. With just a short ride, tourists can escape the hustle and bustle, and enjoy captivating natural landscapes and world-class geological parks. This inclusive and diverse tourism advantage is outstanding and deserves vigorous promotion. Developing tourism with distinctive regional features is the key to the comprehensive revival of the tourism industry in Hong Kong. The SAR government is fully exploring the tourism potential of each district, creating more attractive new tourism hotspots, and making Hong Kong a preferred destination in the minds of global travelers.

(Source: Ta Kung Pao)

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