Is building new attractions the way forward for Hong Kong’s tourism sector?

Industry leaders welcome government’s latest tourism development blueprint, but call for creation of more infrastructure to host events

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Industry leaders have encouraged the government to build more infrastructure, going beyond just the Kai Tak Sports Park. Photo: Jelly Tse

Published: 8:30am, 31 Dec 2024Updated: 10:23pm, 31 Dec 2024

Hong Kong needs to build more infrastructure to host international mega-events if the government is serious about turning the city into a top regional travel destination, tourism sector leaders have said.

While industry veterans were generally positive about the government’s blueprint to develop the tourism trade, which was unveiled on Monday, some said the city needed to make several quick fixes to attract more visitors.

Entertainment tycoon Allan Zeman, dubbed the “father of Lan Kwai Fong”, a popular nightlife district in Central, suggested that hosting more mega cultural events could help Hong Kong “move up the tourism scale”.

“People like to go to exciting cities – cities that never sleep. If we can have two or three mega international events every month, we are getting close to that,” the Lan Kwai Fong Group chairman said.

He also urged the city to capitalise on the recent panda mania by building a park with themed restaurants, shops, games and rides.

“We have six pandas [at Ocean Park] but people go to look at them and then leave,” Zeman said. “We need to take it to another level.”