The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) is boosting its global tourism campaign following the city's lifting of the amber code for inbound visitors.
In a statement, Dr. Pang Yiu-kai and Dane Cheng, chairman and executive director, respectively, of HKTB, both welcomed the announcement, saying it "marks the opening of the tourism doors of Hong Kong."
Pang said the board expects that the new measures will result in the influx of more tourists and travelers to Hong Kong.
"Upon fulfilling the vaccination and Covid-19 test requirements, visitors can now enjoy Hong Kong’s full range of diverse and exciting experiences, including our culinary offerings," Pang said in a statement.
To fully revive tourism in Hong Kong, the HKTB will implement a multi-sectoral global promotional campaign called "Hello Hong Kong," showcasing the city's well-known tourism appeals but immersed with new experiences and activities for travelers.
A major part of this campaign is the "mega familiarization trip" to 60 Southeast Asia (SEA) travel trade representatives who are the first inbound visitor groups to visit Hong Kong.
The delegates include business industry representatives, media organizations, and key opinion leaders from Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, and the Philippines.
"Seizing this opportunity, HKTB presents Hong Kong’s brand new experiences to our overseas travel trade partners whom we haven’t seen in a while, hoping that they will introduce brand new tourism products and share Hong Kong’s tourism appeal to visitors in their respective markets and bring them back to Hong Kong as soon as possible," Cheng said.
The delegates are taken to Hong Kong’s newest attractions such as the M+ and Hong Kong Palace Museum in West Kowloon Cultural District and they will be given the chance to experience the city's authentic local culture and traditional festival practices.
The HKTB is assisting the delegates in communicating with local partners and in arranging meetings to further widen businesses opportunities and exchanges.
The HKTB is eager to "showcase Hong Kong’s return to the international stage, generate positive word-of-mouth, and strengthen the city's visibility around the world."
Around 100 business partners have been tapped by the HKTB to participate in their hospitality strategy to warmly welcome tourists and travelers to the city.
The HKTB said there are over 200 events and 100 large-scale meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) lined up in Hong Kong in 2023 for casual travels and business visitors to participate in and enjoy.