Deputy Chief Secretary Warner Cheuk said on Saturday that the nine tourism projects the government unveiled this week are designed to meet changing travel patterns.

They include tours of Kowloon City, Central, and factory visits.

Cheuk, who heads a working group on developing tourist hotspots, said tourists now want more culture, history, and lifestyle rather than popular landmarks.

"There's a new normal for travelling. Before some tourists just came to eat and shop; that seems too one-dimensional," he said on a Commercial Radio programme.

"Now they like to explore the city and see what's so special about the place. This is quite natural. If there's no difference compared to other cities, why come to Hong Kong?"

Cheuk said officials are discussing factory tours with more local companies, including a drug manufacturer.

Speaking on the same programme, Tourism Commissioner Angelina Cheung said officials were now in talks with the Tourism Industry Authority to speed up the issuance of specialised licenses to tour guides.

She said it makes a huge difference if there's someone to explain the story behind a location.