China News Service, Hong Kong, April 7th: From shopping paradise to event capital, Hong Kong unlocks new "traffic" password
China News Service reporter Xiang Luping
How to develop into a popular tourist destination that makes tourists "eye-catching and refreshing" is a "must-answer" question faced by many cities.
On April 2, the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, Mr Yeung Yun-hung, stated that the bureau is actively promoting Hong Kong as an international urban tourism hub and implementing the guiding direction of “building tourism with culture and promoting culture with tourism”. Culture will continue to be a feature of Hong Kong's tourism, and more of Hong Kong's unique culture will be explored, with "exclusively customized" travel content attracting tourists.
As one of the most prosperous metropolises in Asia, Hong Kong has rich social and cultural resources, and its "shopping paradise" is Hong Kong's own "traffic gene". However, as the global tourism market changes and competition intensifies, Hong Kong must also cultivate new economic growth points in innovative ways, by focusing on diversified shopping experiences, integrating culture and technology, improving service quality and other measures, as well as optimizing the tourism industry. Create a city of grand events, unlock the "traffic" code, and let Hong Kong "break out of the circle" again.
First, develop new styles in old places and rejuvenate local characteristics.
Hong Kong's development path is remarkable, from a small fishing village to a dynamic city in Asia. It is precisely because of this unique development process that Hong Kong has huge potential in the fields of culture, history and tourism.
For example, the old Chan Yuk Hospital, King's College, and the old mental hospital on High Street in the Sai Ying Pun area all carry the history and memory of Hong Kong. Many writers even lived here: in High Street, Hu Yanqing recorded the lives of ordinary people in Hong Kong, St. Stephen's Girls' High School became the anchorage for Xiao Hong's wandering life, and the Western District Public Cargo Loading Area was once the secret paradise of Liu Weicheng's childhood. By visiting these cultural monuments, tourists can have a deeper understanding of Hong Kong's past life.
How to combine cultural relic protection with tourism, rationally develop the cultural and commercial uses of historical buildings, and make modernity and history coexist are new ideas that can be considered for Hong Kong's tourism and economic development. For example, artificial intelligence technology is introduced to create a themed map planning tour route application, which uses virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) to present relevant historical scenes, coupled with information such as special souvenirs and restaurant recommendations, to allow tourists to visit Hong Kong Visitors fully understand Hong Kong’s past and present.
Secondly, create high-end consumption to attract visitors from all over the world.
Heritage and characteristics have become the only way for many cities to "get out of the circle" frequently in recent years. As an international metropolis where Chinese and Western cultures meet, Hong Kong also has a unique style and connotation.
Since the beginning of the year, the Cultural and Art Events Committee has planned a series of cultural events, including the "Chubby Hearts Hong Kong" art installation exhibited for the first time in Asia, activities related to "Jin Yong's Centennial Birth Commemoration", and the international pop culture event "ComplexCon Hong Kong 2024" etc. These international literary and artistic events have brought considerable benefits to Hong Kong. According to preliminary figures compiled by the Hong Kong Immigration Department, the number of inbound tourists in the first quarter of 2024 reached 11.23 million.
Strengthening the integration of shopping with culture, art, technology and other elements to attract more high-end events to be held in Hong Kong is an important support for Hong Kong's development as an event capital. For example, the ongoing Hong Kong International Rugby Sevens has attracted a large number of foreign fans.
The Hong Kong Rugby Association, the organizer of the event, said that this event was the first time since the epidemic that tickets were sold out. Overseas ticket sales have exceeded the total ticket sales of the 2024 event by 40%, compared with 23% in 2023 and 3% in 2022. There has been significant growth.
A nearby restaurant owner said that he noticed that there were 80% more foreign tourists than usual. For three consecutive days, half of the business came from tourists.
Finally, there is nothing more touching than sincerity. Only warm and considerate service can truly retain people's hearts in Hong Kong.
The Hong Kong Tourism Board is about to launch a new courtesy campaign to vigorously promote "hospitality". But ultimately, improving the quality of employees, improving reception capabilities, and implementing thoughtful services are the key to building Hong Kong into a "hospitable city." (over)