HONG KONG IS SEEING more international travellers not purely because of the huge variety of dining and shopping options it has to offer but because many visitors have another agenda on their minds - a short stay to complete a billion-dollar business deal or to attend an important international event.
'Today the prime objective of Hong Kong's inbound travel industry is to retain Hong Kong's image as the gateway to China,' said Ashish Bhatnagar, director of product development, Concorde Air-Sea Services.
The crucial factor that is likely to test the tourism trend is competition from mainland cities and Macau.
Travel agencies are aware of these challenges, and are prepared to face them.
'It has become increasingly difficult to maintain Hong Kong as a first stop [en route to the mainland] because many international flights now fly directly to major cities in mainland China. Macau's growth over the next five years will also shift tourism receipts,' said Mr Bhatnagar.
Concorde Air-Sea Services provides a range of travel services, including student travel, ecotourism, meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (Mice), festival tours and guided tours.
'We cater to individual clients' needs as and when they require them. Hong Kong today is the powerhouse of the Asian region, taking in close to 12 million foreign tourists a year, excluding the mainland visitors. It offers something to meet everyone's tastes,' Mr Bhatnagar said.
