HK identifies key spots to further boost tourism

The Hong Kong government on Tuesday unveiled nine new "tourist-hotspot" projects, including Central's old town, Kowloon Walled City, and scenic mountain and coastal areas, as part of its efforts to attract tourists seeking in-depth exploration.

The launch aligns with a robust recovery in the city's tourism sector, which recorded more than 16 million tourist trips between January and April — a 10 percent increase from the same period last year.

The nine projects span Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, the New Territories and the city's outlying islands. They feature locations tied to well-known local brands such as sauce manufacturer Lee Kum Kee, along with popular bazaars in Victoria Park, a pink trumpet garden in Tamar Park, historical buildings in Central and various attractions in the Kowloon City district, as well as a virtual reality exhibition highlighting the now-demolished Kowloon Walled City.

Other highlights include the Old Yau Ma Tei Police Station, events hosted by the city's disciplined forces, which consist of police, firefighters, customs officials and others, and outdoor landmarks such as Victoria Peak, Sai Kung's coastal scenery and the former Hung Hom railway freight terminal.

Unveiled at a Tuesday afternoon news conference, the projects were introduced by the government's Working Group on Developing Tourist Hotspots. The initiatives will be rolled out soon, with full implementation expected by the fourth quarter of 2026.

The projects will feature attraction visits, thematic travel routes for individuals and groups, augmented-reality exhibitions and upgraded tourism facilities.

Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration Cheuk Wing-hing, who chairs the working group, told reporters that Hong Kong's tourism sector must continue to innovate to meet evolving travel patterns.

Cheuk said the sites were selected based on factors including visitor preferences, time-efficiency and cost. He added that the government will monitor progress, gather feedback and explore the development of new projects.

Tourism industry representatives welcomed the initiative and pledged to design attractive tourism products around the selected sites.

Yiu Pak-leung, a lawmaker representing the tourism sector, cited the Old Yau Ma Tei Police Station as a particularly compelling site, given its ties to Hong Kong's film history and police culture. He said the nine projects cater to diverse tourist interests and offer opportunities for the industry to develop unique offerings.

Speaking at a regular news conference on Tuesday morning, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu attributed the recent tourism surge — including an 8 percent year-on-year increase in the number of tourist trips from the Chinese mainland and a 17 percent surge in non-mainland tourist trips — to joint efforts by the government and various sectors.

Lee said mega events and the recovery of the city's aviation capacity have further boosted its global appeal. He pledged enhanced interdepartmental coordination to implement the Development Blueprint for Hong Kong's Tourism Industry 2.0, adding that the government would continue to adapt to emerging trends and enrich offerings under the vision that "tourism is everywhere" in Hong Kong.

amberwu@chinadailyhk.com