Determined to revive Hong Kong’s renowned night life, the city’s authorities have launched Night Vibes Hong Kong, a campaign that packs in a slew of night-time events, extended operating hours at supporting malls, and dining and consumption offers.
The campaign will run from mid-September till December, and is expected to both stimulate domestic consumption and enhance the city’s appeal to tourists following its reopening in February 2023.
Financial secretary Paul Chan said that although the society has resumed its normal pace of life as Hong Kong enters the third quarter, air services, tourist arrivals and domestic spending have yet to fully recover.
Throughout the activation months, locals and tourists will be encouraged to head outdoors after sunset through performances, cultural events, markets and guided tours lined up at harbour-front sites. Such events include the Hong Kong Wine and Dine Festival at the Central Harbourfront Event Space this November, resumption of the National Day Fireworks Display after a five-year hiatus, and the Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance.
More than 80 shopping malls will extend their opening hours, conduct cultural and sports events as well as outdoor night markets, and offer special dining and consumption deals. Some 100-plus Lan Kwai Fong Association member restaurants have signed on to support the campaign with special offers.
Also staying open past the usual operating hours are the Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong Science Museum, and Hong Kong Space Museum. They will continue to welcome visitors until 22.00 from Friday through Sunday and on public holidays. M+ in the West Kowloon Cultural District will offer night tours and various art and cultural activities.
Further sweetening the night-time deal, Hong Kong Tourism Board will hand out Hong Kong Night Treats dining vouchers to visitors and make available Open-top Bus tours at a special price. Talks with different hospitality industry stakeholders are now underway to determine new elements that will enhance the atmosphere of the Temple Street night market.
The city’s travel industry is throwing its support behind Night Vibes Hong Kong. The Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong (TIC), for instance, extended the closing time for its consumer event, Travel Fun Carnival 2023, to 21.00 on September 15 and 16. Chairman Gianna Hsu told TTG Asia that she hoped more people would be enticed to explore more of Hong Kong after dinner.
“I hope the campaign would carry on beyond three months and have offerings continuously fine-tuned,” added Hsu.
She suggested the development of signature night shows in Hong Kong that are similar to the famed Impression West Lake/Enduring Memories of Hangzhou performance in China.
Wing Wong, chairman of Hong Kong Association of Register Tour Coordinator, is also optimistic of the outcome, saying that there were not many night programmes in Hong Kong besides entertainment at Lan Kwai Fong before the pandemic.
“Even the Ladies’ Market operated till 22.00. The campaign will give people more reasons to hang out at night,” he said.
While he believed that most visitors would prefer to tour museums in the day, Wong said night markets that specialise in local flavours would be favoured.
