HONG Kong tourism authorities are set to introduce food trucks at attractions around the city with an aim to add vibrancy to the destinations.
The initiative first started as part of Hong Kong’s 2015-16 Budget Speech and will finally come into fruition by end-2016.
The eight designated tourist spots to feature food trucks include the Golden Bauhinia Square; Central Harbourfront Event Space; Ocean Park; Tsim Sha Tsui Salisbury Garden; Tsim Sha Tsui Art Square; Energizing Kowloon East Venue 1; Wong Tai Sin Square; and Hong Kong Disneyland.
From a pool of over a hundred applicants, 16 managed to obtain the licences to operate the food trucks. The licensees were determined from a cook-off challenge.
“We trust that food trucks will enrich tourists’ experience when visiting these attractions. We will launch a series of promotional activities for the food trucks and will explore opportunities to collaborate with the tourist industry to use this new initiative to boost tourism,” said an official spokesperson.
“We are also planning to have them operating at major tourism events organised by the Hong Kong Tourism Board, such as the Dragon Boat Carnival, the Hong Kong Cyclothon and the New Year Countdown. Moreover, a mobile app for tourists and locals to track the locations of food trucks will be developed.”
Henry Lo, director and general manager of Lantau Tours believes the initiative is ideal for FITs. “(However), we organise day tours for leisure groups and will not purposely promote or include it in our itinerary because of limited free time.”
Managing director of Sincere International Travel Service, Charles Ng, welcomed the move and said: “Our local food culture definitely draws visitors. It’s vital to drum up noise for this new offer from the outset. But it’s hard to assess its immediate benefit to arrival figures as it’s a long-term investment.”
