John Lee vows to showcase Hong Kong as ‘city of hospitality’ in push to attract more tourists during ‘golden week’ holiday
- City leader acknowledges ‘new period of economic development’ for Hong Kong and that local businesses have been adapting to shifting demands
- Lee says government will prepare to attract more mainland tourists during Labour Day ‘golden week’ holiday, a five-day break from May 1
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu has vowed to bring in more tourists during mainland China’s “golden week” holiday next month and showcase Hong Kong as a “city of hospitality”.
Lee also acknowledged on Tuesday that the city was undergoing “a new period of economic development” and that he was happy that local businesses were adapting to shifting demands and consumption patterns of visitors.
The city leader was echoing a call by a senior Beijing official that Hong Kong should seek and embrace changes.
“We hope we can prepare well for the May 1 golden week holiday and be a city of hospitality, a city of courtesy and a city of good experiences,” he said in reply to a question on Hong Kong’s preparation ahead of the traditional holiday period.
Many mainlanders seize upon the five-day break that begins on May 1 to travel both at home and abroad, and Lee said that the government would actively prepare to host them. The Tourism Board and various sectors had already made preparations, he added.
Hong Kong’s Tourism Board said on Tuesday the city received 3.4 million visitors last month, a 38.6 per cent increase over the year before, with more than 70 per cent – or 2.47 million – coming from the mainland.