Hong Kong sells itself as a cultural and sporting hub as mainland shoppers look elsewhere

The Hong Kong government says it is diversifying the city’s tourism attractions instead of just focusing on mainland shoppers as competition for visitors in the region escalates.

With Shanghai Disneyland opening in June, potentially keeping tourists away from Hong Kong, more cultural and sporting events will be held this year to lure international visitors.

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These include a Formula E battery-powered motorsport event in October, a comics park located in Golden Bauhinia Square, Wan Chai, in May and a French-style light show spanning seven historical buildings in Central in November.

Echoing Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying’s call in his policy address on Wednesday for the tourism industry to move up the value chain, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Greg So Kam-leung said Hong Kong needed to “create a multi-culture and very diversified portfolio” to attract tourists from different destinations.

“We can’t simply rely on a single market” he added.

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Promoting the city’s gourmet culture was among the bureau’s missions, and So said the government would consider sending chefs overseas to promote local dishes.