Different Actions Taken by the Hong Kong SAR Government in Tourism Development

• According to the law, a package tour refers to an outbound travel service which consists of two or all of the following three components: transport which commences in Hong Kong, accommodation and organised activities. As such, one-day tours that assemble and dismiss outside Hong Kong are not regarded as package tours under the definition of law and travel agents need not frank the tour receipts concerned, with the result that participants of this kind of one-day tours are not protected by the TICF and the Package Tour Accident Contingency Fund Scheme.

• Ask your family members or friends to keep all franked receipts for you before departure and bring a photocopy of the receipts with you on the tour.

Reference: http://www.tichk.org/public/website/en/travellers/out_advice_1/html/

(iv) Hong Kong Hotels Association (HKHA)

Hong Kong Hotels Association (HKHA) was founded in 1961. Its role and functions are as follows:

• To co-operate and co-ordinate the hotel industry in Hong Kong;

• To protect the rights and benefits of members;

• To advise the government on hotel development in Hong Kong; and

• To work closely with all the educational institutions involved in hotel and catering training.

organizations and potential visitors. Additional fund is earmarked for the HKTB to raise Hong Kong’s MICE profile and provide one-stop professional support for MICE events to be hosted in Hong Kong.

(iii) Tourist Attractions and Facilities

The Government continues to develop a wide range of diversified tourist attractions in Hong Kong with a view to enhancing Hong Kong’s overall attractiveness as a premier tourist destination.

The Ocean Park is implementing its redevelopment plans. Upon completion of this phased project by 2012, it will become a world-class marine-themed park featuring more than 70 attractions. New attractions opened in past years include “Skyfair Celebration”, “Amazing Asian Animals” and “Ocean Express”. In January 2011, “Aqua City”, consisting of one of the largest aquaria in Asia and an aquarium restaurant, was opened. Another new theme zone “Rainforest” featuring Expedition Trail and the Rapids, etc. was also opened in June the same year.

Hong Kong Disneyland, another popular theme park, is undertaking its expansion plan, which is expected to be completed in phases by 2013. Upon completion of the expansion, three brand new themed areas will be added to the park, namely “Toy Story Land”, “Grizzly Gulch” and “Mystic Point”.

“Toy Story Land” is scheduled to open by the end of 2011. The expansion will enlarge the existing theme park by about 23 per cent, adding more than 30 new attractions, entertainment and interactive experiences, bringing the total number to over 100.

The Hong Kong Wetland Park, opened in May 2006, is a world-class conservation, education and tourism facility. It consists of a 60-hectare outdoor wetland reserve and a 10 000 square metres visitor centre with three exhibition galleries. As a major green tourism facility, it blends well with the surrounding.

Opened in September 2006, Ngong Ping 360 comprises a 5.7 km cableway ride lasting about 25 minutes, and a Buddhist themed village. The crystal cabin cable car ride launched in 2009 offers a spectacular panoramic view of the beautiful landscape of Lantau Island.

Having visited the Buddhist themed village, visitors can proceed to visit the new Pai Lau, Bodhi Path, Di Tan and the Chinese landscaped garden in the 1.5-hectare Ngong Ping Piazza which was opened in August 2010, as well as the tourist attractions nearby, such as the Po Lin Monastery, Giant Buddha, and Wisdom Path. In addition, visitors can explore other intriguing parts of Lantau, including Tai O fish village and beautiful beaches on Southern Lantau.

(iv) Cruise Hub

operation in mid-2013, and the second berth is expected to be completed in 2014. The HKTB will also continue to strengthen its promotion efforts and drive consumer demand for cruise tourism. Upon completion of the new cruise terminal, together with the existing cruise terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong will have four berths in total for cruise vessels.

(v) Enhancement Projects of the Existing Popular Tourist Areas Completed projects include:

• enhancement of the Sai Kung waterfront;

• minor improvements to Lei Yue Mun;

• enhancement of the Central and Western District including Dr Sun Yat-sen Historical Trail;

• Visitor Signage Improvement Scheme;

• the Stanley Waterfront Improvement Project;

• the Peak Improvement Scheme;

• the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade Beautification Project;

• the Transport Link in Tsim Sha Tsui East; and

• the Avenue of Stars, which is a joint venture with the private sector

(vi) Cultural, Heritage and Eco-Tourism

The Government has not lost sight of the fact that Hong Kong’s traditional relics and assets, some of which date back six thousand years, offer visitors insight into the region’s history. One fine example is the preservation and development of the former Marine Police Headquarters in Tsim Sha Tsui into a tourism facility by the private sector, which is recently opened to the public as “1881 Heritage”.

To promote cultural tourism, the HKTB runs a Cultural Kaleidoscope cultural experience programme, which features activities ranging from Chinese cake-making to tai chi practice and architecture walk. A guidebook “Discover Hong Kong by Rail”

To facilitate visitors to experience Hong Kong’s fascinating culture, culinary delights and unique heritage, the HKTB has launched the“Ding Ding Hong Kong Tram Guide”, which highlights local attractions along the tramline. In addition, the HKTB continues to work with the trade to promote traditional Chinese customs and festivals, such as the Tin Hau Festival parade in Yuen Long and Cha Kwo Ling, Tam Kung Festival in Shaukeiwan, the Cheung Chau Bun Festival

and the Birthday of Lord Buddha celebrations at Po Lin Monastery.

These four traditional festivals were bundled under the “Hong Kong Cultural Celebrations” promotion in April and May 2010 and visitors were encouraged to take part in the celebrations in different districts.

Leveraging Hong Kong’s ecological richness and diversity, the Commission is promoting green tourism in Northeast New Territories and outlying islands, having regard to the principles of nature conservation and sustainable development. The HKTB launched the “Great Outdoors Hong Kong!” in 2009 to promote the Hong Kong National Geopark, the natural scenery of outlying islands, popular hiking trails and other green attractions. Guided tours were provided free of charge and participants were given a specially designed guidebook.

The HKTB also actively promotes cultural and arts activities in Hong Kong, such as the Hong Kong Arts Festival, Hong Kong International Film Festival and large-scale arts exhibitions in various local museums, so as to attract more tourists to Hong Kong. To introduce to visitors Hong Kong’s arts and cultural attractions in different districts, the HKTB published “A Guide to Hong Kong Arts and Culture” in the second quarter of 2010. Moreover, the Commission, in collaboration with the HKTB, has joined hands with performing arts groups and the tourism sector to leverage on arts and cultural products to enrich visitors’ nightlife and travel experience.

(vii) Service Standards and Performance

Since mid-2006, the Government has subsidised a series of new specialised courses for tourism practitioners. By the end of July 2011, some 4 700 members of the travel agents trade have enrolled in the new courses. To further encourage tourist guides to continuously better equip themselves to meet new market challenges, in July 2007, the TIC introduced a Continuous Professional Development Programme (CPD Programme) for tourist guides. Tourist guides are required to fulfill the training

Flagstaff House now the Museum of Tea Ware

Also, the HKTB continues to implement the Quality Tourism Services (QTS) Scheme, which aims to enhance the overall service standards among retailers, restaurants, hair salons and visitor accommodations. The Scheme provides visitors with better service and quality assurance. In mid-2011, a total of 7 242 retail, restaurant and hair salon outlets, as well as 9 visitor accommodation premises covering 713 rooms had received QTS accreditation.

The promotion of a community-wide hospitality culture is essential to the sustainable development of the tourism industry. The Tourism Commission launched the Hong Kong Young Ambassador Scheme in 2001 to train young people to be polite and helpful to visitors, as well as to promote a hospitality culture in schools and the community. From time to time, the Commission also co-organizes activities with the travel and related industries to encourage further improvement in the quality of service for our tourists.

(viii) Accessibility: Accessing Hong Kong

The Government continues to enhance Hong Kong’s accessibility. Nationals from some 170 countries can visit Hong Kong visa free for periods ranging from seven to 180 days. Recently, it concluded a mutual visa-abolition agreement with Russia, which started on July 1, 2009.

As for Mainland visitors, the quota of the Hong Kong Tour Group Scheme of Mainland visitors was abolished in January 2002. The Individual Visit Scheme (IVS) allowing

residents of designated Mainland cities to visit Hong Kong as independent travellers, without joining group tours The scheme was introduced in July 2003 which has been gradually extended and now covers 49 Mainland cities. As at June 2011, there were over 68.39 million visitor arrivals from the Mainland through the Individual visit Scheme (IVS) since its implementation.

Source: Hong Kong - The Facts. Retrieved from

http://www.gov.hk/en/about/abouthk/factsheets/docs/tourism.pdf

5.3.4. Key International Tourism Organizations