FriendsWithYou is an art collaboration created in 2002 by Samuel Borkson and Arturo Sandoval III. Hong Kong Tourism Board teamed up with the duo this time to promote the “Hong Kong Neighbourhoods – West Kowloon” programme.

The partnership came as the board released figures today showing that around 10,000 visitors came to Hong Kong in August, indicating an increase of 143 percent compared to record of last August.

Data also revealed that around 53,000 visitors came to the city from January to August this year. This is a decline of 98.5 percent compared to last year's record.

The promotion aiming to boost local tours has seen a number of the FriendsWithYou characters virtually appear at different attractions in the city.

They already made their mark lately in a few of Hong Kong’s best known landmarks. Some rode on trams and sailed on the Star Ferry, while others shopped for seasonal fruit in the Yau Ma Tei Fruit Market.

Citizens can also find the characters in the Art Park of the West Kowloon Cultural District as there will be 12 giant inflatable installation of them from September 23 to October 14.

The most eye-catching character Little Cloud will be more than three-stories high and longer than a bus, while Rainbow will be larger than a minibus.

At the same time, the Hong Kong Space Museum will display the iconic smiley face of the FriendsWithYou characters on its exterior wall.

The characters will also appear virtually from September 23 at six landmark locations, including West Kowloon Arts Park, Xiqu Centre, Yau Ma Tei Tin Hau Temple, Temple Street Night Market and the Avenue of Stars in Tsim Sha Tsui.

Visitors can scan QR codes displayed at these locations with their phones, and the FriendsWithYou characters will appear to take them on a tour in West Kowloon and introduce its arts and cultural highlights.