The Hong Kong government has allocated more than HK$1.09 billion (US$127.7 million) in funding to strengthen the destination brand and expedite tourism development.
Financial secretary Paul Chan said the newly released budget would allow Hong Kong’s tourism industry to create more products and stage more events to attract high-quality tourists who would also spend more time in the destination.
Hong Kong’s mega events calendar will feature big names like the 15th National Games in 2025, jointly hosted by Hong Kong, Guangdong Province and Macau; as well as financial forums such as the Asian Financial Forum, the Global Financial Leaders’ Investment Summit, and the Asian Financial Forum.
The funding will also facilitate the creation of the Sponsored Overseas Speaking Engagement Programme, which will sponsor reputable scholars and industry leaders to attend overseas events where they will promote Hong Kong’s many strengths.
Visitors to Hong Kong can expect a medley of new and enhanced experiences, such as monthly pyrotechnic and drone shows set against Victoria Harbour; a revamped A Symphony of Lights light-and-sound show; immersive city walk programmes; and various outdoor activities like hiking, cycling, stand-up paddle-boarding, trail-running, and stargazing in the wilderness.
The Tourism Commission will continue to organise signature creative arts and cultural projects in the coming years. Such projects, like the Sai Kung Hoi Arts Festival and the Design District Hong Kong, have been very well received.
The hefty budget will be accessible to Hong Kong Tourism Board, with HK$971 million set for use over three years – 2024/25, 2025/26, and 2026/27 – while HK$665 million is earmarked for 2024/25.
HKTB chairman Pang Yiu-kai thanked the government’s funding and shared usage intentions: “We will adopt four key strategies to reinforce the city’s status. First, we will continue to develop diverse tourism experiences. Second, we will organise and support mega events throughout the year. Third, we will step up promotions in visitor source markets. And finally, we will continue to join hands with the industry to enhance the capacity to receive visitors, to launch a new promotional campaign to encourage the trade and the public to be good hosts, and to enhance service qualities so that we offer every visitor the best possible experience.”
Cathay Group welcomes the government’s pro-tourism budget. Its executive officer Ronald Lam said: “As a committed enabler of Hong Kong’s future through our ability to connect Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland with the world, Cathay remains focused on continuing to sustainably grow our business as Hong Kong’s home carrier.”
Lam reinforced that Hong Kong has a thriving international aviation hub, where Cathay, together with about 120 airlines, provides flight services to some 180 destinations globally from Hong Kong International Airport.
“We enthusiastically welcome initiatives that further strengthen Hong Kong’s leading hub status,” he stated.
Set for operations in end-2024, the Three-Runway System at Hong Kong International Airport is expected to bring new and exciting opportunities for the aviation industry.
Lam said: “We fully support the government’s proactive plans to leverage the opportunities presented by the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and the Three-Runway System to foster increased intermodal connectivity, and continue to develop flight services along existing major routes as well as routes connecting Hong Kong with Belt and Road Initiative countries and regions.”
The National Association of Travel Agents Singapore (NATAS) opened its travel fair this morning at the Singapore Expo with expectations of a strong visitor crowd that would mirror the robust demand for travel seen throughout 2023.
Speaking at the NATAS Travel 2024 opening ceremony, Simon Er, deputy president of NATAS, said demand for travel is still “robust, strong and ongoing” and “hopes for visitor numbers to top 102,000”.
Interest in courting Singapore residents this year is much stronger, evident by an expanded Travel Fair 2024 featuring 66 exhibitors compared to 51 in the February 2023 fair. The range of sellers include travel agencies, national tourism organisations, and other players in the industry.
Guest-of-Honour gracing the opening ceremony was Melissa Ow, chief executive of Singapore Tourism Board (STB), who spoke about Singapore’s tourism recovery and continued attractiveness as a destination with business and leisure offerings. She also acknowledged the increased demand for authentic experiences and is also optimistic that outbound travel remains healthy.
When asked for projected transaction value by the time the fair ends on Sunday, Er said such information would not be available.
Appetite for package tours continues to remain strong in 2024 among all types of travellers, from multi-generational families to couples, according to travel agencies that TTG Asia spoke to at the fair.
They also predict destinations such as Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Europe to remain perennial favourites of Singapore residents. However, demand for destinations farther afield will also pick up, especially for Norway and Finland to catch the Northern Lights, due to reports that the phenomenon will be at its strongest this year
“Travellers are also looking for more experiential and in-depth tours”, said Diana Tan, head of department (HR & public relations), CTC Travel.
She observed a stronger desire for new sights. “People want to start exploring places they’ve never been to before to get a different experience,” she said.
Younger travellers, for instance, have made enquiries and bookings to places such as Antarctica. There has also been more demand for Xinjiang and Silk Road tours, Nepal, Egypt and Morocco, as well as requests for English-speaking guides.
Similarly, Jeremiah Wong, senior marketing communications manager, Chan Brothers Travel, noted an increase in more off-the-beaten-path destinations.
He expects bookings for the company’s Bhutan packages, which were popular in 2023, to gain more traction as they now include a chartered direct flight to the country. There has also been a healthy increase in interest to places such as Mongolia and Uzbekistan – also because of chartered flights.
Both Tan and Wong also noted that travellers were making their travel plans earlier than usual.
Wong has seen bookings made more than six months in advance especially for seasonal travel during popular periods, such as the cherry blossom season. High airfares post-Covid have also motivated people to confirm their travel plans earlier.
Among his customers, Wong noted strong demand for all types of package tours, from the fully planned ones to self-drive packages among multi-generational families, and has also observed more single travellers making bookings.
He added that even travellers who used to travel free and easy have converted to package tours as they appreciate the convenience.