How can Hong Kong boost tourism? Industry leaders call for better government coordination, aligned bay area plans

Current blueprint lacks proposals on how related sectors such as aviation, hotels, transport operators, caterers and retailers can work together, lawmaker Perry Yiu says

Industry veteran Caspar Tsui says Hong Kong should also consider collaborating with different mainland China cities to avoid competition for visitors

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Tourists take pictures at Yick Cheong Building, also known as ‘monster building’, in Quarry Bay. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

Published: 8:30am, 7 May 2024Updated: 8:52am, 7 May 2024

Hong Kong’s tourism industry leaders have urged authorities to avoid working in silos on arrangements that can boost the sector and align the city’s plans with the Greater Bay Area strategy – two key areas missing from its latest blueprint.

In drawing up the city’s “Tourism Blueprint 2.0” road map later this year, authorities recently launched its first consultation with industry stakeholders. The exercise is expected to wrap up in mid-June.

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu pledged to update the blueprint in last year’s policy address by outlining goals and key directions that could further the sector’s development and foster collaboration with other industries.

Tourism sector lawmaker Perry Yiu Pak-leung said greater cooperation between government departments was urgently needed to support the tourism trade.

“There is an urgent need to delineate a new blueprint under the new circumstances. We’ve gone through years of pandemic and witnessed changes from visitor demands to all aspects of the industry,” he said.

The different government bureaus and departments could incorporate tourism into their development goals and not dismiss it as something that only concerns the Cultural, Sports and Tourism Bureau, he added.