Hong Kong to work closer with ASEAN in tourism

HONG KONG -- Hong Kong will trigger off more tourism cooperation plans and increase investment in ASEAN countries, aiming to further promote the city as a top destination.

As Hong Kong's second-largest source market region, Southeast Asia contributes over 3.6 million visitors a year, of which Singapore, the Philippines and Malaysia are the top three performers, according to the government-subvented body Hong Kong Tourism Board.

"Hong Kong maintains a good bilateral co-operation with ASEAN member states," HKTB's spokesperson said in an email interview, adding that the current mutual agreement on visa exemption is in force between Hong Kong and six ASEAN member states, namely Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.

In addition, the relatively stable political and economic conditions, and the increased flight capacity between Hong Kong and various countries in the region give the Board a great platform to promote Hong Kong as a top destination.

Its spokesperson said HKTB will increase investment in the region in the year of 2013-14.

The Board will launch a promotion campaign to attract the Muslim populations in Indonesia and Malaysia to visit Hong Kong during the post-Ramadan holidays. It will organize road shows in Southeast Asia including Thailand and Indonesia and encourage travel trade to develop multi-destination itineraries featuring Hong Kong and its neighboring city Shenzhen. In Vietnam, HKTB plans to work with airlines to attract visitors to Hong Kong during summer, in order to make a head start in its promotions once the visa issue is resolved.

HKTB is also joining hands with some ASEAN members such as Thailand and Singapore to promote multi-destination itineraries in long-haul markets such as the US, Canada and Europe. These initiatives help raise the profile of both ASEAN and Hong Kong and achieved maximum benefits for all parties.

"We are planning to launch a major regional promotion, leveraging our brand of 'Asia's World City' in the region to create top-of-mind awareness for Hong Kong," the spokesperson said.

Not only is Hong Kong known for its achievements in international trade and finance, it is also a city instilled with the exciting duality of a modern metropolitan's vitality enhanced by a traditional society's historical richness and color, where travelers can experience a vibrant living culture featuring a unique blend of the East and the West. These combined to make Hong Kong one of the most popular destinations for tourists from all over Asia, if not the world.