Wish you were here: Hong Kong must keep evolving to attract more tourists
Gregory So says the dip in tourist numbers is spurring efforts to promote Hong Kong more creatively
Has Hong Kong lost its lustre as a tourist attraction, and has the Hong Kong government done enough to develop tourism infrastructure in the city? These are questions being asked around town as Hong Kong experiences its first downturn in visitor arrivals since 2009, and a continued weakening of visitor spending.
We have also heard that perhaps we should look beyond shopping and dining when promoting Hong Kong, to highlight the city's other aspects, such as arts, culture or even its hiking trails, to attract a more diverse visitor mix.
These are all valid concerns, and ones that I and my colleagues in the Tourism Commission and Tourism Board are looking at closely. Our goal is to ensure that Asia's world city remains a must-see destination for people from all corners of the globe. Here, we not only have a challenge but a great opportunity to look at what we can and should do to facilitate holistic and sustainable tourism growth.
Visitors have been beguiled by our eclectic mix of East and West, old and new, tradition and innovation
There is no doubt that Hong Kong has much to offer. For decade upon decade, visitors have been beguiled by our eclectic mix of East and West, old and new, tradition and innovation. These are part of our tourism DNA and, I believe, will continue to be an attraction in the years ahead.
A number of aspects need to be considered, including connectivity, ease of access, receiving capacity, attractions, value for money and packaging. Changes in exchange rates, for example, may make people think twice about whether a destination is good value, or indeed even affordable.
As a global business, financial and trading centre, Hong Kong is fortunate to be well connected by air, with about half the world's population within a five-hour flight. Our airport ranks consistently among the best in the world for visitor experience. We are pressing ahead with plans for a third runway to ensure our capacity can meet expected demand. Not only that, once you are in Hong Kong, our public transport system is one of the best in the world in terms of affordability and network.
On ease of access, we have a liberal immigration regime which provides visa-free access for people from about 170 countries. In recent years, we have tweaked our immigration rules to make it even easier for people to study, work and live in Hong Kong.
