Travel industry leaders have vowed to push for “red tourism” in Hong Kong, saying such tours can help the younger generation better understand history.

On Friday, representatives of the trade organised a tour around the city, with a stop at the Hong Kong Museum of The War of Resistance and Coastal Defence.

Travel Industry Council chairman Tommy Tam said the city has lagged behind in promoting red tourism – a concept referring to visits to landmarks with historical significance to the Communist Party of China – to both locals and travellers from outside the SAR.

One main target group would be the younger generation, he added.

“I believe it should be interesting and quite attractive,” Tam said.

“For the teenagers, the kids, we need to tell them about the history, we need to [get them to look back at historical events that happened] some 80 years ago.”

Tam said the trade is hoping to introduce such tours “as soon as possible”.

“In terms of the economic scale that red tourism brings, I don’t have the solid figure at hand, but I believe it would be encouraging,” he said.