Strengthening ‘ticket economy’ among Hong Kong lawmaker’s proposals for sports industry
Other ideas from DAB’s Vincent Cheng include involving restaurants, retailers, attractions and hotels, and cultivating ‘home fans’ culture
Lawmaker Vincent Cheng Wing-shun has raised nine recommendations across three categories as Hong Kong’s largest political party works on developing a five-year plan for the city’s sports industry.
The proposals from the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB) come in response to the Government’s first Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (2026–2030), which is under public consultation until mid-August.
Specifically regarding the sports industry in Hong Kong, Legislative Council member Cheng believed it was important to strengthen the “ticket economy”, support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the sports sector, and cultivate public participation in sports and appreciation of sporting events.
“In the past, Hong Kong has sporadically engaged in ‘ticket economy’ promoted by various groups or industries,” he said. “But we lacked a driving force, and we recommended that the government work with the industry to develop an application and establish a unified digital ticket verification system.
“[The app] should integrate information from restaurants, retail outlets, attractions, hotels and transportation across Hong Kong, allowing tourists and citizens to obtain discounts through it.”
With Hong Kong set to host the World Fencing Championships, Hong Kong Football Festival, the Hong Kong Open – a Badminton World Federation Super 500 event – in the coming months, Cheng estimated that more than 200,000 overseas tourists would be coming to Hong Kong specifically to watch major sporting events, prompting him to urge the government, together with the Hong Kong Tourism Board, to encourage restaurants, retailers, attractions and hotels across Hong Kong to launch strategic promotional activities.