3 ways Hong Kong can easily and quickly up its tourism game
- Hong Kong has all the ingredients it needs, from its East-meets-West cultural history, free port tax-free status and vast natural attractions
We did not expect to see more outbound travellers than inbound visitors after Hong Kong reopened its borders last year. Over three days during the Easter holiday this year, for example, about 2 million residents left the city while visitor arrivals reached only 1.2 million. This net outflow of 800,000 people was a blow to the city’s retailers and restaurants who had hoped to cash in on the holiday bonanza.
If this trend persists, it will hurt Hong Kong’s economic recovery. Tourism Board numbers show that visitor arrivals last year were 31 million fewer than in 2018 – the drop in same-day arrivals from the mainland made up over half of this decline.
Still, there’s no reason for despair. Unique, novel experiences attract visitors and encourage consumption, and Hong Kong has all the ingredients it needs.
Firstly, it is an international, East-meets-West metropolis. One can start the day with authentic dim sum, then a world-class ballet, followed by a tandoori meal and a Thai massage.
Secondly, as a free port with no tax on sales or imports, and plugged into a world-class logistics network, Hong Kong should be more aggressive in modernising its storage facilities and hosting events for upmarket goods, from art and yacht shows to wine tastings, to attract deep-pocketed visitors and businesses.
Lastly, Hong Kong’s natural beauty awaits discovery. Most of our natural attractions are within 45 minutes of the city centre. However, they are underappreciated by locals and seldom marketed to visitors.
Hong Kong also has over 1,000km of coastline, 263 islands and about 1,651 square kilometres of marine water. High-end water sports such as sailing and yachting should be promoted to complement the government’s strategy of attracting high-net-worth individuals and family offices.
Tourists nowadays yearn for more personalised and unique experiences. Given Hong Kong’s attributes – from its East-meets-West cultural history to its free port tax-free status and vast natural attractions – the city can easily and quickly improve its tourism offerings to create unforgettable experiences for visitors and revive the industry.
Andy Cheng Yin-kwan is a member of the Tuen Mun district Council and vice-chairman of the Youth Affairs Committee in the Construction Industry Council