Plans and Protection Key to Hong Kong's Tourism Revamp

(Source: Travel Weekly China)

Hong Kong's tourism stakeholders are waiting with anticipation to hear Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor's first policy address.

While tourism industry requests have called for more resources, industry supervision and infrastructure, Edward Yau Tang-wah, commerce chief, said on Friday, "As a small city, we need to develop different attractions ... and more unique activities other than shopping."

He added his department would announce a slew of new policies and increase scrutiny into existing tourism businesses, including airlines, following the recent Hong Kong Express flight cancellations.

Hong Kong's tourism industry is slowly recovering from the downturn due to the anti-corruption campaign in mainland China, with figures up to end August 2017 up a cautious 1.9% year-on-year.

Super Golden Week statistics were not encouraging, however, with the Immigration Department posting only a 0.7% increase from 2016.

Tourism authorities are suggest investing more money in various tourism projects; in smaller and more local tourist spots rather than "dumping money" on major developments; in the Travel Industry Council's training fund to assist travel agencies; and even in setting Hong Kong up as an international exam hub in response to the mainland students travelling to the city for foreign university entrance exams.