Hong Kong, with its vibrant nightlife and dazzling array of shops, used to be the tourist destination for people coming from all over the world to enjoy shopping, sightseeing and a blend of eastern and western lifestyles.

But nowadays, the city is facing stiffer competition from its neighbours; cities like Singapore, Bangkok, Shanghai and Macao are chasing the tourism dollar in earnest. Pundits are saying that it won't be long before Hong Kong's leading status is seriously challenged.

Shanghai, for instance, will soon be hosting Asia's first Formula One grand prix event in a bid to boost tourism, while Macao has liberalized its gaming industry and is poised to become the Las Vegas of Asia.

Meanwhile in Singapore, the government has commissioned a study to assess the feasibility of building a giant theme park and casinos on Sentosa Island.

To stay competitive, the Hong Kong government needs to map out a master plan to turn the city into a world-class tourist destination with more special attractions catering to visitors, says Allan Zeman, chairman of Lan Kwai Fong Holdings Ltd, the nightlife precinct's largest landlord and regarded in entertainment circles as the "father" of Lan Kwai Fong.

Zeman built his reputation as one of the city's leading entrepreneurs by turning Lan Kwai Fong, located in what was once a non-descript corner of Central, into a world-renowed entertainment zone famed for its collection of bars, pubs and restaurants.

And as the chairman of Ocean Park, Zeman is working on revamping the 27-year-old theme park to lure more visitors to compete with Hong Kong Disneyland, slated to open in 2005 at Penny's Bay on Lantau Island.

Zeman's grand plans for the revamped park include building three hotels, constructing a tunnel with a train linking the park's headland and lowland attractions, and bringing in more marine animals.

Zeman believes the key to boosting the local tourist industry, as a hedge against increasing competition, is to develop family tourism.

"In the past, people came to Hong Kong mainly for business," Zeman says.

"We now have a changing market because next year we will have Disneyland opening up. This will bring a of new kind of tourist - family tourists with their children - to Hong Kong."

As such, Hong Kong needs to have more hotels, more theme restaurants and shopping malls with special attractions to cater to these family tourists, he says.

"We need more two-to-three-star hotels to cater to these families. We need hotel rooms with small kitchens that Hong Kong hotels don't have now and more theme restaurants.

"We can have more leisure and resort hotels where tourists can enjoy spas and massages for relaxation just like in Bali and Phuket.

"In Hong Kong, we have wonderful and nice green areas, but few hotels enhance this kind of element for tourists. It is a new industry that Hong Kong needs to bring into the marketplace in future," he says.

Zeman even suggests that Hong Kong hotels look at staging live shows and shopping malls introduce more attractions, like they do in Las Vegas, to attract tourists.

"Within the shopping malls in Las Vegas, tourists have a special shopping experience - they really feel excited and fascinated.

"You need to attract more brandnames like Disney (to Hong Kong), because people always associate with brandnames. We need to be innovative and provide new and themed shopping complexes.

"If we don't want to fall behind, we need to look at and strengthen these aspects. It is important that Hong Kong looks forward. We should start concentrating on getting back the lead or else other regions will overtake us."

Zeman also believes that the West Kowloon Cultural District mega project being undertaken by the government will play a vital role in boosting the local tourist industry.

The cultural project includes a theatre, an arts performance hall, four museums, arts development centres and open areas.

A giant canopy, which will be built to cover more than half of the 40-hectare cultural site, plus a long harbour-front promenade, will be prominent features.

The multi-billion-dollar project, due to be finished by 2010, is poised to boost Hong Kong's standing as an arts and cultural hub.

"The project is absolutely important for Hong Kong's tourism," says Zeman.

"Cultural performances and exhibitions in museums, like those in London and New York, will help attract certain kinds of tourists."

Zeman strongly believes the SAR's existing performance and exhibition venues are not attractive enough to lure tourists.

After the project is completed, "we have to make sure that the exhibitors attracted are world-class. We have to make sure that performers, singers and exhibitors from all over the world make the district a centre of entertainment," he says.

"Before, Hong Kong never had such kinds of cultural venues. Now we'll have no excuse. We'll have the venues and we must do it right."

From the point of view of a Canadian living in Hong Kong for more than 35 years, Zeman observes that Hong Kong's uniqueness lies in its international outlook, good brand name and beautiful harbour.

"Hong Kong itself is very lucky. It has built up a reputation in the world for its unique harbour and culture. When foreign tourists think about great cities, Hong Kong is always there."

Zeman believes that the people of Hong Kong need to continue to support the internationalism and cosmopolitan flavour of the city.

"That is what makes the city unique. We must continue to attract people starting up businesses here, living here and setting up industries here, from all around the world, including the mainland.

"If we lose this internationalism, Hong Kong will become just another Chinese city."

Zeman also believes once the existing Individual Visit Scheme is extended to the Pan-Pearl River Delta (PPRD) region, which comprises nine mainland provinces, Hong Kong and Macao, it will further boost the tourism industry and revitalize the local economy.

If the scheme is extended to the entire PPRD region, about 450 million mainland residents will be eligible to apply to visit the city.

Zeman is also a strong supporter of plans for new infrastructure linking Hong Kong, Macao and the mainland.

"If the region's transportation networks and infrastructure are improved, it will make it easier for visitors to travel around the PPRD region.

"If a rapid passenger train, travelling between Hong Kong and Guangzhou, say within 45 minutes, comes into service, closer ties between Hong Kong and the mainland can be fostered," Zeman says.

If the infrastructure problems are overcome,integration between the three areas would occur naturally, he says. For instance, tourists could visit Disneyland in the morning, travel around Macao in the afternoon and come back to the city to have dinner.

Zeman, who grew up in Canada, came to Hong Kong in the 1970s. At the time, he saw the untapped potential in D'Aguilar Street and made it his mission to transform the area into a popular night spot for tourists and trendy locals.

In the early 1980s, he opened California restaurant, the first of many themed restaurants that were to follow.

Over the years, the entertainment zone has grown to become one of Hong Kong's tourist icons. Restaurants and clubs in the zone offer a wide range of cuisine and serve a multitude of locals and visitors every day.

Before entering the entertainment industry, Zeman operated Colby International Group, an apparel sourcing company. He later sold the company to Li & Fung Ltd, a Hong Kong-listed company.

When asked what he thinks Lan Kwai Fong will look like in 10 years' time, Zeman says: "Lan Kwai Fong will continue to go through changes and get stronger and stronger.

"Lan Kwai Fong is like fashion and the restaurant business is like the fashion industry that changes all the time with new colours, new concepts and new kinds of designs.

"We always upgrade (our) restaurants every three to four years and new operators start their businesses. In 10 years from now, more mainland tourists will spend more time in Lan Kwai Fong. We will continue to attract foreigners and both can meet and enjoy themselves."

Asked to sum up how he feels about always being able to come up with creative and innovative ideas and achieve tremendous business success, Zeman says: "Lucky!".

"I was fortunate. If you look at designers, they are usually creative but they may be the worst businessmen. And most businessmen are not creative. I am lucky to possess the two. I haven't gone to school to learn how to be creative. It's something you are born with.

"I have the creativity but I also have a logical mind. I have the unique ability to look at things quickly and decide what to do."

(HK Edition 09/16/2004 page18)