Hong Kong doesn't need 'forced shopping' to attract tourists
Alice Wu says the government must crack down on "forced shopping" and other unethical tourism practices, and focus on making HK a great home for its best asset - its people
Tourism is a huge deal for any city. It goes beyond the economic benefits that tourists bring. It's a measurement of how well our city takes care of its inhabitants, its environment and how hard its people work for making their city a better home.
It is, in short, a measure of liveability. Hong Kong can't be appealing to visitors if we ourselves can't find appeal in it.
Our cityscape is stunning - the view from the Peak is proof of that. For years, people have joked about shopping being this city's favourite sport, but that is not what gives this city our soul. We've got a lot to offer our visitors - and these go beyond the neon lights, Ocean Park and the Big Buddha.
Hong Kong is an alpha-plus world city. We do not need to con visitors here and hold them up in, say, jewellery shops
Authorities must stop the operation of low-fee tour groups that force clients to shop at designated shops. If we are adamant about selling ourselves as a shopping paradise, we need to understand that once tour groups are allowed to coerce shopping, that paradise is lost.
"Shadow tourists" - agents disguised as tourists for the purpose of deception - need to be punished by our laws. This is something our lawmakers and the government can work together on, now. And perhaps this will give our lawmakers, refreshed from their recess, something meaningful to work on.
