Hong Kong lawmakers and experts urged the city to tap into its rich island travel resources by offering more immersive and unique travel experiences for inbound tourists, whose travel patterns have changed significantly.
They proposed designing diverse and high-quality travel itineraries, enriching nighttime activities, and revamping promotional strategies. These efforts, they said, will rejuvenate the economic vibrancy of remote areas and stimulate the city’s overall tourism market.
The Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions on Tuesday released the results of a survey of Chinese mainland tourists, showing a shift in preferences from traditional tourism sightseeing and shopping to more flexible journeys featuring comprehensive natural and cultural experiences.
READ MORE: CE unveils four-point plan to boost Hong Kong's economy
Such a trend indicates potential demand for island tourism while highlighting the need for improved transportation and other infrastructure.
Hong Kong boasts 263 islands, with the Outlying Islands district covering approximately 17,600 hectares of land rich in tourism resources.
Among the 287 effective responses to the survey, 67 percent of respondents said they preferred individual travel to Hong Kong over joining tour groups, with nearly half spending two days in the city.
Aron Kwok Wai-keung, a lawmaker from the federation, said that among the 1.2 million visitors arriving in Hong Kong during the National Day Golden Week from Oct 1-7, only 30,000 opted for tour groups.
The survey revealed that 56.79 percent of tourists primarily seek relaxation and nature experiences with natural landscapes, cultural and historical attractions, and nighttime activities influencing their itinerary choices.
Regarding dining preferences during island tours, 56.1 percent of respondents favored local snacks, while only 29.62 percent preferred seafood.
The development of island tourism aligns with the “making everywhere in Hong Kong a tourist hot spot” initiative promoted by Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.
When meeting with Hong Kong tourism officials in Beijing in early May, Xia called for the city to fully tap into its tourism resources and develop new tourism routes and products.
In response, Lam Chi-ting, vice-chairman of the union federation, called for more diversified island travel options with different themes.
He suggested professionally planning routes that integrate scattered resources on the outlying islands, enabling visitors to explore multiple islands within a day, thus enhancing travel efficiency and enriching their experiences.
He cited the low utilization of 2,300 daily quota for entering the Sha Tau Kok Frontier Closed Area as an example of inadequate planning. Despite the opening of the once-restricted area as a tourist spot in January and launching of tourism products on nearby islands, the destination has not gained popularity, partially because of its exclusion from the nearby Chung Ying Street, a historically significant location near the border between Hong Kong and Shenzhen.
The union also suggested developing special tourism products in line with the characteristics of each islands, such as nighttime activities for stargazing, night hiking, and campfires, along with an expanded selection of local snacks and souvenirs.
So Man-hing, an expert in Hong Kong historical anecdotes, highlighted the growing popularity of in-depth travel that has created greater demands for high-caliber tour guides.
With many tourism professionals shifting to other industries during the COVID-19 pandemic, he recommended that the authorities enhance training programs and provide subsidies to nurture more talents for comprehensive tours.
READ MORE: HK records nearly 30m visitors in first eight months of 2024
The survey indicated that social media has emerged as the primary information channel for tourists, accounting for 77 percent of responses.
Kwok recommended that the special administrative region government establish an official social media platform to strengthen promotion of boutique island travel routes.
Highlighting successful promotional strategies for Xisha Islands in the South China Sea and Pingtan Island in Fujian province, he called for greater collaboration with influential key opinion leaders to better publicize Hong Kong’s island tourism.
Contact the writer at stephyzhang@chinadailyhk.com