Hong Kong News

Nonpartisan, Noncommercial, unconstrained.
Wednesday, Nov 06, 2024

Hong Kong can regain its tourism crown – if it moves with the times

Hong Kong can regain its tourism crown – if it moves with the times

Hong Kong needs to modernise its tourism model, focusing on quality rather than quantity, and respond to shifts in consumer behaviour during the pandemic. With its unique history and location, and creative and resilient workforce, the city has what it takes but it must adapt swiftly.

The unprecedented disruption during the Covid-19 pandemic to how we travel has created an urgent need to rethink transport, accommodation and hospitality for all destinations involved in travel and tourism.

The tourism industry has historically been one of Hong Kong’s most important sources of income, contributing nearly five per cent of the city’s gross domestic product and providing numerous employment opportunities. However, the industry has suffered greatly recently due to the year-long protests that paralysed parts of the city, and the slow lifting of anti-epidemic measures that scared off potential visitors.

Reversing the damage done to Hong Kong’s tourism industry and enhancing its current poor image will take a long time and a lot of effort. That’s why we must act now to show the world what Hong Kong has to offer.

The Hong Kong government has recently paid much more attention to tourism, and that’s a positive development, but flashy promotions, slogans and giveaways are not enough.

To restore confidence, all businesses involved in the industry – airlines, travel agents, hotels, shops, major tourist attractions, conference and exhibition organisers, the media, and others – must enhance their hardware and software for the new normal and respond to the latest trends and expectations. In short, we need to give travellers concrete reasons to return.

The recently launched “Hello Hong Kong” campaign to promote tourism has faced some criticism. It’s clear that the city should project a stronger message, focusing on its unique cultural diversity, culinary richness, efficiency, safety and more. After several years of lockdowns, people crave authentic and meaningful experiences when they travel, so a compelling proposition is essential.

Over the past decade, Hong Kong has relied too heavily on one source of tourist arrivals, which is not sustainable in the long term. The need to move from mass to quality tourism is obvious, and the decision is hardly a choice.

The city is becoming increasingly expensive, and it’s no longer the shopping haven it once was. In fact, other regional destinations now offer the same or better choices, some at lower prices. This will significantly impact the number of arrivals.

Hong Kong needs to modernise its tourism model. Quality tourists expect higher standards in both economic and cultural terms, and a well-trained and motivated workforce with a positive attitude is imperative to welcome, serve and attract them – hospitality is a people-first business, after all.

The good news is Hong Kong does have what it takes to regain its dominant position in the global tourism industry. The city is blessed with a distinctive history and location. Its inhabitants are also exceptionally creative, innovative and resilient, with a proven track record of turning challenges into opportunities. Overall, it’s a unique place to live, work and visit – one of the most freewheeling places in the world, and definitely a place of contradictions.

The city’s strengths in financial services, trade, transport, communication and infrastructure also remain robust and attractive to many. Its coastal areas and country parks, ranging from sandy beaches and rocky shores to peaks of almost 1,000 metres, are stunning, and something Hong Kong can proudly promote to foreign visitors.

People visit the Tai Tong Sweet Gum Woods in south Yuen Long to admire the changing colour of the leaves on December 27, 2022.

That said, when seeking to attract quality international travellers, Hong Kong must be more aggressive and focused in its approach. Tourism industry investors and operators must recognise that the behaviour and spending patterns of consumers and travellers have shifted dramatically during the pandemic, and will only continue to change. They should alter their business plans and strategies accordingly.


New competitive facilities, products, services and attractions must continually be developed to meet visitors’ expectations. Maximising the potential of Hong Kong’s harbourfront with better facilities for events, business and leisure could be a great place to start.

Another low-hanging fruit would be the creation of a cultural centre for year-round musical or theatrical performances and special events. Created in line with what New York and London are offering, this could be one of the best facilities in Asia.

For several decades, Hong Kong’s tourism industry ranked among the world’s strongest, with high standards resulting in high performance and returns. The wit, grit, passion and professionalism of the city’s local and foreign workforce made its tourism scene highly enterprising, dynamic and competitive.

Past glories, however, cannot be relied upon, and change is inevitable. Hong Kong must adapt now to regain its dominant position in the market.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Hong Kong News
0:00
0:00
Close
It's always the people with the dirty hands pointing their fingers
Paper straws found to contain long-lasting and potentially toxic chemicals - study
FTX's Bankman-Fried headed for jail after judge revokes bail
Blackrock gets half a trillion dollar deal to rebuild Ukraine
Steve Jobs' Son Launches Venture Capital Firm With $200 Million For Cancer Treatments
Google reshuffles Assistant unit, lays off some staffers, to 'supercharge' products with A.I.
End of Viagra? FDA approved a gel against erectile dysfunction
UK sanctions Russians judges over dual British national Kara-Murza's trial
US restricts visa-free travel for Hungarian passport holders because of security concerns
America's First New Nuclear Reactor in Nearly Seven Years Begins Operations
Southeast Asia moves closer to economic unity with new regional payments system
Political leader from South Africa, Julius Malema, led violent racist chants at a massive rally on Saturday
Today Hunter Biden’s best friend and business associate, Devon Archer, testified that Joe Biden met in Georgetown with Russian Moscow Mayor's Wife Yelena Baturina who later paid Hunter Biden $3.5 million in so called “consulting fees”
'I am not your servant': IndiGo crew member, passenger get into row over airline meal
Singapore Carries Out First Execution of a Woman in Two Decades Amid Capital Punishment Debate
Spanish Citizenship Granted to Iranian chess player who removed hijab
US Senate Republican Mitch McConnell freezes up, leaves press conference
Speaker McCarthy says the United States House of Representatives is getting ready to impeach Joe Biden.
San Francisco car crash
This camera man is a genius
3D ad in front of Burj Khalifa
Next level gaming
BMW driver…
Google testing journalism AI. We are doing it already 2 years, and without Google biased propoganda and manipulated censorship
Unlike illegal imigrants coming by boats - US Citizens Will Need Visa To Travel To Europe in 2024
Musk announces Twitter name and logo change to X.com
The politician and the journalist lost control and started fighting on live broadcast.
The future of sports
Unveiling the Black Hole: The Mysterious Fate of EU's Aid to Ukraine
Farewell to a Music Titan: Tony Bennett, Renowned Jazz and Pop Vocalist, Passes Away at 96
Alarming Behavior Among Florida's Sharks Raises Concerns Over Possible Cocaine Exposure
Transgender Exclusion in Miss Italy Stirs Controversy Amidst Changing Global Beauty Pageant Landscape
Joe Biden admitted, in his own words, that he delivered what he promised in exchange for the $10 million bribe he received from the Ukraine Oil Company.
TikTok Takes On Spotify And Apple, Launches Own Music Service
Global Trend: Using Anti-Fake News Laws as Censorship Tools - A Deep Dive into Tunisia's Scenario
Arresting Putin During South African Visit Would Equate to War Declaration, Asserts President Ramaphosa
Hacktivist Collective Anonymous Launches 'Project Disclosure' to Unearth Information on UFOs and ETIs
Typo sends millions of US military emails to Russian ally Mali
Server Arrested For Theft After Refusing To Pay A Table's $100 Restaurant Bill When They Dined & Dashed
The Changing Face of Europe: How Mass Migration is Reshaping the Political Landscape
China Urges EU to Clarify Strategic Partnership Amid Trade Tensions
The Last Pour: Anchor Brewing, America's Pioneer Craft Brewer, Closes After 127 Years
Democracy not: EU's Digital Commissioner Considers Shutting Down Social Media Platforms Amid Social Unrest
Sarah Silverman and Renowned Authors Lodge Copyright Infringement Case Against OpenAI and Meta
Why Do Tech Executives Support Kennedy Jr.?
The New York Times Announces Closure of its Sports Section in Favor of The Athletic
BBC Anchor Huw Edwards Hospitalized Amid Child Sex Abuse Allegations, Family Confirms
Florida Attorney General requests Meta CEO's testimony on company's platforms' alleged facilitation of illicit activities
The Distorted Mirror of actual approval ratings: Examining the True Threat to Democracy Beyond the Persona of Putin
40,000 child slaves in Congo are forced to work in cobalt mines so we can drive electric cars.
×