Hong Kong’s revamped Temple Street night market boosts businesses and footfall, though most visitors are locals: industry leader
- About 70 per cent of those visiting the market that opened on Friday are locals, while 30 per cent are tourists, industry leader says
- ‘The goal is to bring their ratio up to 50 per cent gradually, and then to 70 per cent of the total visitors,’ he adds
The newly revamped night market on Hong Kong’s Temple Street has helped drum up more business and boost footfall at the Jordan attraction, though most of those visiting are locals, a sector representative has said.
“During these early stages of the market, I hope we can bring more tourists in,” Raymond Chan Kam-wing, chairman of the Yaumatei Temple Street Association of Hawkers and Shop Operators, told a radio programme on Monday.
“Currently, we have observed about 70 per cent of visitors are locals, while 30 per cent are tourists. I hope this trend can shift.”
Chan also said that he hoped non-locals, especially those from mainland China, would see online promotions about the market and visit when in Hong Kong.
“The goal is to bring their ratio up to 50 per cent gradually, and then to 70 per cent of the total visitors,” he said.
He added that the market was intended to give the city an additional tourist attraction as existing vendors were mostly selling goods targeting foreign visitors.
Hundreds of people flocked to the long-awaited reopening of the Temple Street night market in Kowloon on Friday to enjoy a range of local delicacies sold at more than 30 stalls.