EditorialPopular Hong Kong events give grounds for optimism
- Revamped night market and bumper bazaar help draw the holiday crowds who will hopefully spread the word that the city is back in business
Glad tidings arrived just in time for the holiday season and the Hong Kong tourism sector. Crowds unseen in years have been showing up for a revamped night market on Temple Street as well as at one of the largest annual bazaars at Victoria Park.
Although locals made up the bulk of the turnout, large crowds at the Jordan market and Hong Kong Brands and Products Expo in Causeway Bay have given the city and its pandemic-weary business sector sufficient reason to be optimistic.
The expo, which features more than 900 booths offering bargain prices for food and other products, is expected to draw an overall attendance of 1 million visitors and sales of as much as HK$1 billion (US$127.9 million) during its 24-day run. With Covid-19 health rules no longer in place, a “food plaza” and taste-testing are back on the menu.
Cuisine has also attracted visitors to the Temple Street market. It was overhauled as part of the government’s wider “Night Vibes Hong Kong” campaign to boost the nighttime economy.
Tourism Board officials said authorities would review footfall and the reactions of visitors to see if the bazaar should be extended past its initial six months. About 70 per cent of market visitors have been locals and 30 per cent tourists.