Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po (center) hosts a press conference to elaborate relevant strategies and initiatives of "Hello Hong Kong" at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai on Feb 2, 2023. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)
Industry insiders said that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government’s high-profile plan to lure global visitors, enliven the city’s image, and stimulate the local tourism market will inject fresh momentum into the hard-hit tourism and culture sectors.
They stressed that there is an urgent need for the city to restore its capacity to receive tourists, and to formulate a sustainable long-term blueprint for local tourism and cultural development.
The remarks came on Wednesday after the 2023-24 Budget announced it will earmark HK$100 million ($12.7 million) for the mega events that will attract tourists and promote tourism in Hong Kong.
Besides that, the Hong Kong Tourism Board will spend over HK$250 million to organize and promote major tourism events, including the Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival, the Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races, Hong Kong Sevens rugby tournament and Art Basel in Hong Kong.
The Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival, to be held for the first time, will feature about 20 programs organized by different organizations, including film screenings, lectures and concerts, a government official told the media at the press preview session.
In addition, the Hong Kong Tourism Board will be allocated additional funding of HK$200 million to secure the staging of large-scale international meetings, conventions, and exhibitions. Also, more than 10 major conferences will be held by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council in the coming months.
To stimulate local consumption, the government will launch a Happy Hong Kong campaign to provide residents with food fairs in various regions of Hong Kong and a sea‑land carnival alongside Victoria Harbour.
Several new programs are also being launched to support licensed travel agents. Eligible travel agents can borrow HK$1 to HK$5 million from banks, with a maximum repayment period of 10 years, said another government official.
Hong Kong will host the GBA Culture and Arts Festival in 2024 to promote the arts industry in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area with the aim of attracting an audience of about 140,000 people.
The SAR government will allocate HK$135 million over five years to support performing arts groups and artists in Hong Kong participating in performances and productions in the GBA.
Hong Kong's Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po delivers his annual budget speech at the Legislative Council in Hong Kong, Feb 22, 2022. (CALVIN NG / CHINA DAILY)
Tourism sector lawmaker Perry Yiu Pak-leung said he believes that these promotional initiatives will help to attract more visitors to Hong Kong and that the Happy Hong Kong campaign will create a cheerful atmosphere in the community.
However, he also called for support measures for the hotel industry to strengthen the workforce and restore its capacity for receiving tourists, citing the industry’s disappointment at being left out of the budget.
Timothy Chui Ting-pong, executive director of the Hong Kong Tourism Association, said that he expects to see a large influx of visitors once the measures proposed in the budget are implemented.
Ma Fung-kwok, president of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles Hong Kong Members Association, called for an upgrade in support for exchanges between local art groups and mainland GBA cities, given the surge in such needs after the full resumption of cross-border travel.