In this May 3, 2019 picture, tourists take selfies from Victoria Peak in front of a view of residential and commercial buildings in Kowloon, background, and Hong Kong island, foreground, separated by the Victoria Harbour. (ANTHONY WALLACE / AFP)

HONG KONG — Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) Friday said it planned to launch a scheme from the middle of June aiming to encourage local residents to explore the region in light of the improving COVID-19 pandemic situation here, and boost Hong Kong tourism.

Under the scheme announced on Friday, Hong Kong residents would enjoy over 11,000 items covering food, hotels and attractions at a discounted rate

Dane Cheng, executive director of the HKTB at an online press briefing said this scheme was the first step of a three-phased recovery plan for Hong Kong tourism, which also includes forming a "travel bubble" among Hong Kong and its regional neighbors as the second and reviving international market as the last.

Under the scheme announced on Friday, Hong Kong residents would enjoy over 11,000 items covering food, hotels and attractions at a discounted rate.

ALSO READ: Tourism in HK suffers sharp drop for holiday

"We hope the special package will encourage Hong Kong residents to consume more, which is expected to deliver a positive message to the world and build up visitors' confidence in Hong Kong tourism," Cheng said.

As regards the "travel bubble", Cheng expected China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) government and governments in Hong Kong's tourism markets, such as the Chinese mainland and Macao SAR, to reach mutual recognition of arrangements allowing visitors to travel freely without undergoing quarantine.

READ MORE: Tourism sector to get HK$400-m subsidy as visitors decline

As for international markets, Cheng said the board will closely monitor the epidemic developments of overseas markets and promote Hong Kong tourism there if the epidemic is controlled.