As July 1 approaches, a series of celebratory events and promotional activities, such as the third "Hong Kong Shopping Festival" and the "Caring Food Coupon Programme", are being rolled out. These festivities create a festive and jubilant atmosphere, fostering a sense of unity and joy while stimulating consumption, promoting the silver economy, and attracting tourists, thereby injecting strong momentum into the economy.
As an international tourism hub, Hong Kong must continuously innovate and improve in products, services, experiences, systems, and measures to enhance its global competitiveness. This will ensure that HK can attract tourists from all over the world and encourage local residents to spend within the city, whether during regular days, holidays, or grand festivals, thereby fostering local economic growth.
The July 1 events and promotional activities serve as a vital window to showcase HK's vibrancy and multiculturalism. Immigration Director Mr. Benson Kwok Joon-fung stated that, based on last week's data, the number of inbound and outbound travelers during the July 1 holiday is expected to exceed 1 million, highlighting HK's attractiveness as an international tourism hub. The three-day "Extravaganza! When Brazil Meets Hong Kong," which combines Brazilian passion with HK's cosmopolitan charm, is expected to attract around 8,000 citizens and tourists daily, further deepening mutual understanding and connections between the two regions, promoting tourism exchanges, and driving economic development.
As Financial Secretary Paul Chan pointed out, such events help cement HK's position as the "Premier Hub for Mega Events in Asia." With world-class infrastructure like the Kai Tak Sports Park being completed, HK is poised to host more international events in the future, attracting global attention.
The upcoming "Hong Kong Shopping Festival," which will run from July to August, involves over 180 brands and 5,000 stores offering more than 300 promotions worth over HK$1.9 billion. These include discounts, freebies, complimentary drinks, snack coupons, and other perks, covering areas such as clothing, food, housing, transportation, entertainment, and shopping. The number of participating brands has increased by over 10% compared to last year, while the total value of discounts has risen by more than 50%, reflecting the business community's confidence in a market recovery.
These promotions not only stimulate local consumption but are also expected to encourage tourists to extend their stay in HK, boosting their willingness to spend. By organically combining events with discounts, HK aims to further establish itself as a world-class travel destination that visitors want to return to, spend in, and recommend to others.
The "Caring Food Coupon Programme", jointly launched by the HKSAR Government and the business sector, serves as a leading example of promoting the silver economy. Under the initiative, 300,000 breakfast vouchers will be distributed to 50,000 seniors, allowing them to enjoy breakfast at chain restaurants for just HK$15 per voucher. This encourages seniors to dine out with family and friends, fostering social interaction and community integration.
Such measures not only drive dining consumption and benefit restaurants and nearby businesses but also demonstrate the cooperation between the government, businesses, and citizens, ensuring that everyone feels cared for amidst the festive cheer.
To maintain its edge in the fiercely competitive international arena, HK must continue to innovate. For example, the Mainland's recent instant tax refund policy for departing tourists offers valuable insights. In addition to airport tax refund counters, concentrated refund points have been set up in major shopping malls in cities like Beijing and Shenzhen, allowing overseas tourists to receive tax refunds immediately after shopping, significantly enhancing the consumption experience.
HK should learn from this proactive approach to improving the shopping experience. Leveraging its high-quality goods and guaranteed authenticity, along with coordinated shopping promotions and marketing, HK can make tourists feel they are getting better deals and encourage them to purchase more.
Additionally, HK should strengthen the application of technology by enhancing smart tourism platforms that integrate attractions, transportation, and discount information. Artificial intelligence could be utilized to provide personalized recommendations for travelers. By deepening its "Tourism Plus" strategy, hosting diversified events to drive the tourism economy, and strengthening collaboration with other cities in the Greater Bay Area to launch "multi-destination" travel packages, HK can extend tourists' stays and boost their spending.
(Source: Wen Wei Po; English Editor: Zoey Sun)
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