New blueprint for Hong Kong’s tourism industry ‘won’t be ready until second half of year’

Tourism Strategy Committee holds first meeting and is set to convene two more times this year, according to source

Meeting focused on larger strategies to help Hong Kong become a popular tourist destination and details won’t come until later, insider says

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Locals and visitors visit Peel Street in Central. The coming tourism sector blueprint was announced in Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu’s policy address last October. Photo: Wynna Wong

Published: 8:28pm, 29 Jan 2024Updated: 11:16pm, 29 Jan 2024

A new government blueprint for Hong Kong’s tourism industry will not be ready until the second half of the year, sources have said, as the sector’s advisory committee convened for the first time to identify issues with the current strategy.

An insider familiar with the matter told the Post the new Tourism Strategy Committee, which held its first meeting on Monday, was set to convene two more times this year before the “Development Blueprint for Hong Kong’s Tourism Industry 2.0” could be finalised.

“[Monday’s] meeting mainly discussed larger strategies to help Hong Kong become a popular tourist destination. The details won’t come until the next meeting,” the source said.

“So the actual blueprint won’t be available until the end of the year or at least the second half of 2024.”

Tourists gather in Tsim Sha Tsui. Hong Kong’s current tourism sector blueprint was released in 2017 and a member of the new strategy committee says recent developments need to be addressed. Photo: Sam Tsang

Nightlife tycoon and committee member Allan Zeman said the Tourism Board gave a presentation on the latest figures for the industry, with representatives from the city’s flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways, Ocean Park and Disneyland Resort among those present.

Zeman added that he could not confirm when the next blueprint would be available, saying the government needed time to “digest” all the information.