Financial secretary says HK will step up "Tourism is Everywhere" strategy
發佈日期: 2025-05-04 19:38
TVB News
Financial Secretary Paul Chan said today the government will turbocharge the promotion of its harbourfront spaces and the "Tourism is Everywhere" campaign.
Meanwhile, an organisation said to advance the tourism initiative, there is a need for innovation in local policies and tourism package design.
With these bustling scenes at tourist hotspots throughout the Golden Week, Financial Secretary Paul Chan wrote on his blog post that it's pivotal to boost the city's capacity to welcome these visitors by enhancing infrastructure and improving tourists' experience.
He noted one major draw is the Victoria Harbourfront. He said the recent large-scale outdoor coffee festival held in the West Kowloon Cultural District wooed more than 50,000 visitors.
The finance chief said preliminary planning has commenced as well for the waterfront area south of Hung Hom Station, with goals of developing it into a new harbourfront landmark.
Chan said the government will also introduce light food and beverage kiosks along the harbourfronts in Central, Wan Chai, North Point and Tsim Sha Tsui.
Meanwhile, the Junior Chamber International Hong Kong conducted a survey between March and early April themed "Tourism is Everywhere" and interviewed more than 800 Hong Kong residents and over 400 foreigners.
The survey revealed nearly half of the overseas respondents prioritise eco-tourism, followed by historical sites and cultural attractions in Hong Kong. Top-rated destinations among overseas visitors include Sai Kung, Tai O and the Four Trails.
In contrast, local residents tend to recommend culinary and shopping experiences, with eco-tourism as a secondary preference.
PAUL CHAN, Survey Consultant: "There is a greater change of the preference of our visitors who want to look for the hidden gems. For the trade, they need to know how to work out the tourism products which can somehow unlock some of these potentials."
The body said the city's convenient transport, rich natural scenery and easy-to-reach attractions with compact sightseeing routes have made the city ideal for independent travellers. And the city should spotlight these strengths and let the world know more about them to boost the city's tourism.
An Australian representative from the body said Hong Kong could draw inspiration from Australia's approach to eco-tourism.
ATLANTA LLOYD, National President, JCI (Australia): "We have shifted our focus to creating a tourism environment that actually educates tourism on indigenous practices and the impact on our land, which has just changed the way we've looked at tourism rather than making sure that it's accessible for everyone. We've ensured that we are actually educating them and giving them a fully cultural experience rather than just a viewpoint to look at."
