The Hong Kong Tourism Board welcomed on Wednesday the government's support for its work and for driving the long-term development of the industry.

This came after Financial Secretary Paul Chan said in his budget speech that a HK$1.66 billion subvention would be allocated for the board, which received HK$1.235 billion last year, to take forward promotional initiatives and organise flagship events.

He also instructed the board to draw more overnight visitors from mainland cities outside of Guangdong and potential markets such as Asean and the Middle East.

"The Hong Kong Tourism Board will make full use of the resources allocated by the government and partner with the trade to attract high-end overnight visitors, encouraging them to extend their stay and spend more, while enhancing visitor experiences in Hong Kong to inspire repeat visits," board chairman Peter Lam said.

"This will further strengthen the tourism industry’s contribution to the Hong Kong economy and benefit various trade sectors citywide.”

The board said it would continue to step up its efforts with regards to the meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions and cruise tourism sectors as well as promote the Greater Bay Area tourism brand and its multi-destination appeal to jointly create business opportunities with the trade.

It will also strengthen promotions to showcase Hong Kong's distinctive experiences and enhance the scale and appeal of its mega events to highlight the city's edge and reinforce its tourism competitiveness.


Edited by Tony Sabine