The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) held an online annual tourism bulletin earlier this month, unveiling its plan to revive tourism in the region.
The plan aims to make the city a popular destination for travelers from all over the world when travel resumes in Hong Kong.
Under the theme “Together to New Horizons”, Tourism Renewal 2022 attracted 3,200 sales representatives from travel agencies, attractions, hotels, airlines, retailers, restaurants, and meeting and exhibition organizers from Hong Kong, mainland China and overseas markets.
HKTB shared information on the latest trends in tourism and plans for its work for the coming year.
In his opening remarks, HKTB Chairman Dr. Yu. K. Pang highlighted Hong Kong’s return to normalcy.
“The fifth wave of the pandemic is subsiding,” he said.
“Daily life and economic activity in Hong Kong is now gradually returning to normal, allowing us to host large-scale events and prepare for the return of visitors.
“Throughout the pandemic, Hong Kong has not stopped building and upgrading its tourism infrastructure. This summer we will see the grand opening of the Hong Kong Palace Museum and the third runway at Hong Kong International Airport is expected to be operational in the next couple of years.
“With these new infrastructure elements and the support of the governments of the Central Administrative Region and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Hong Kong’s competitive advantage has been strengthened and we can confidently move towards new horizons.”
In his presentation, HKTB Executive Director Dane Cheng outlined how HKTB will focus primarily on creating a “positive atmosphere” in the city, maintaining Hong Kong’s image around the world by launching “Hong Kong Summer Treats”.
The campaign will provide discounts and promotional offers starting with Art in Hong Kong, a campaign that supports international arts and cultural events such as Art Basel, which will return in physical form.
As social distancing measures are further eased, HKTB will stage more world-class events in stages, including the Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival and Hong Kong WinterFest, and support other high-profile events such as the Hong Kong Sevens.
Cheng emphasized the importance of ensuring the restoration of the home in anticipation of the return of visitors from all over the world.
“These actions will create a positive atmosphere in Hong Kong and demonstrate how we have returned to normal,” he said.
“HKTB will then launch extensive promotions, including a tactical ‘Hong Kong Open Day’ campaign to welcome visitors when the time is right. To better respond to market needs, we will also strive to make the visitor journey smoother through end-to-end digital transformation.
“HKTB conducted extensive research across 16 markets and found that Hong Kong continues to be loved by travelers around the world. They specifically identified some of the top factors that encourage people to visit Hong Kong, including cleanliness, local…