Adrian Ho

Opinion | How to boost Hong Kong tourism: vouchers now, and a vision for the long term

The industry needs reforms and a radical overhaul but, for now, vouchers to reward tourists for spending locally – say, HK$100 for every HK$1,000 spent – would be a quick boost

Beyond that, Hong Kong must prioritise quality, distinctiveness and originality while leveraging its culture, diversity and heritage

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Adrian Ho

Published: 9:30am, 27 Jan 2024

The lifting of Covid-related restrictions has not been enough to stimulate Hong Kong’s beleaguered tourist economy, with visitor numbers last year just over half of what they were in 2019. Increasingly, Hongkongers are also going to the mainland for more affordable and even superior dining and shopping experiences, leaving the city’s hotels, shops and restaurants struggling for survival.

Meanwhile, Macau appears to have surpassed Hong Kong in terms of having a more effective tourism campaign. Hong Kong must revitalise its tourism industry quickly while contending with serious competition. One novel option to offer hospitality vouchers.

Hong Kong could allow visitors to redeem discounts on hotel stays based on their spending in shops and restaurants. This is a straightforward strategy to help local businesses and support employment while encouraging tourists to spend more time and money in the city.

For example, visitors who can show they have spent HK$1,000 (US$128) shopping or dining in Hong Kong could redeem a HK$100 voucher to use at any participating hotel, or even exchange it for coupons to spend at partner restaurants or shops.

There are many benefits to such a scheme. For local businesses, it could increase revenues, build consumer loyalty and even generate jobs. As part of a tourism campaign, the scheme could help enhance Hong Kong’s reputation as a tourist destination, aiding efforts to highlight the city’s diversity and culture.

Moreover, a voucher programme would be cost-effective and easy to implement. It could be subsidised by the government up to HK$500 million. Despite our fiscal deficit, our city can still afford to spend this amount to boost tourism, with a goal to bringing in revenue.