HKTB invites mainland travel trade members to explore opportunities in HK

Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) has organised the first familiarisation trip for mainland travel trade representatives since the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, hosting about 120 travel trade members from 38 mainland cities to visit new attractions in Hong Kong, to explore business partnership opportunities with the Hong Kong travel trade and bring new opportunities to Hong Kong’s tourism.

The trip comes after the lifting of all social distancing measures and the full travel resumption in Hong Kong. Invited by the HKTB, the trade members came from 38 mainland cities across South China, North China, East China, West China and Central China.

According to the release, the group has travelled to Hong Kong on a five-day-four-night itinerary, visiting the M+ and Hong Kong Palace Museum at West Kowloon Cultural District, Water World Ocean Park and Hong Kong Disneyland, as well as other recommended points of interest in the HKTB’s “Hong Kong Neighbourhoods” promotions to gain an in-depth understanding of the city’s authentic local culture.

In addition, the HKTB arranged for the visitors to meet with the local travel trade to connect with both sides and discuss future partnership opportunities and open up new opportunities together.

A travel agency representative said that Hong Kong is considered fresh and more attractive than ever to visitors with its new line-up of recently commissioned attractions, which offers new, horizon-broadening experiences. The new attractions and experience can definitely be added to their newly developed tourism products as they offer choices that meets various mainland consumers’ needs.

Another travel agent also noted that, since travel resumed between Hong Kong and the mainland, he has received inquiries from eager travellers expressing their interests in visiting Hong Kong. He also highlighted that, as many travellers beyond the Guangdong Province considered Hong Kong as their must-go destination when they are planning their trips, Hong Kong will be more appealing than ever to mainland travellers with the city’s continuous addition of new travel experiences and multidestination connection and partnership with other Greater Bay Area cities.

Dane Cheng, HKTB executive director, said, “We hope the familiarisation trip attendees can transform their personal experiences in Hong Kong into new and innovative tourism products and promote Hong Kong’s tourism appeal to visitors in source markets, thereby attracting visitors to return to Hong Kong soon. The HKTB will keep inviting more representatives from key visitor source markets to the city, and team up with the tourism and related sectors to drive the swift revival of Hong Kong’s tourism.”

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“Hong Kong’s tourism doors are now fully open to the world. The HKTB has also seized the chance to roll out the global promotional campaign ‘Hello Hong Kong’. Since the beginning of the year, we have arranged familiarisation trips for about 700 travel trade and media representatives from the mainland, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, the UK, Australia and India to experience Hong Kong in person," Cheng added. 

Moving on, the next familiarisation trip will be held between March to April for UK, Australian and Indian trade-industry representatives. They will be invited to watch the Hong Kong Sevens and visit M+ and the Hong Kong Palace Museum. A delegate of Indian travel trade representatives will also visit Hong Kong to experience the city’s new attractions.

MARKETING-INTERACTIVE has reached out to Hong Kong Tourism Board for additional information.

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