With a newly-appointed executive director of the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), Anthony Lau Chun Hon, in the chair less than two months (at the time of going to press), the future for Hong Kong looks set to only improve.
At his appointment ceremony he said that being born and raised in Hong Kong, he was “most thrilled to take part in promoting the tourism industry of my home”.
And no wonder, with visitor arrivals to Hong Kong in the first six months of 2007 growing by an incredible 6.8 per cent to more than 13 million. The figure includes more than 2.03 million arrivals to the city in June, which represents a year-on-year growth of 7.7 per cent.
Several individual markets that showed strong growth potential last year continued their robust performance and delivered remarkable results in the first six months. These include the Philippines (+19.0 per cent), India (+10.2 per cent), South Korea (+18.1 per cent), Russia (+18.4 per cent) and the Netherlands (+10.3 per cent).
On top of this is the buoyancy of the convention and meetings sector. In statistics released by the world authority on association meetings, Hong Kong was the 16th most popular city for hosting international congresses (that fit ICCA’s strict criteria). In 2006 Hong Kong hosted 57 international association congresses. Vienna (147), Paris (130) and Singapore (127) were the top three cities.
That figure – like everything else in Hong Kong – may climb in 2007/08, with the Hong Kong Tourism Board very focused on growing its high-yield visitor segment, of which meetings, incentives and events are a part of.
In a recent statement, executive director of The Federation of Hong Kong Hotel Owners, Michael Li, said the importance of the MICE industry could not be underestimated.
“Hong Kong enjoys many advantages as a meeting hub, namely its world-class infrastructure and facilities, superb professional services and great diversity of experiences,” he said.
“We should capitalise on these advantages to promote the city as the ultimate MICE destination.”
And, as executive committee member of the Board of Airline Representatives Hong Kong, Joe Ng, points out, the strong global interest in Mainland China, coupled with some major upcoming events, like the 2008 Beijing Olympics, “will clearly benefit our airline industry. Leveraging on Hong Kong’s strategic geographic location and the growth in direct international air services to and from Chinese cities, we can develop more multi-destinational itineraries anchored on Hong Kong,” he said.
And it’s not only the meetings sector that is seeing strong growth and helping to keep average hotel occupancy rates above 80 per cent. Exhibitions have also seen a rise, according to a study conducted by KPMG Transaction Advisory Services Limited. The `Economic Impact Study Report – 2006’ measured the economic impact of the exhibition industry for the 2006 calendar year, and found that the exhibition industry contributed HK$26.4 billion (US$3.38 billion) to the local economy in 2006, equivalent to 1.8 per cent of Hong Kong’s total GDP.
The report findings confirmed the significant contribution of Hong Kong’s exhibition industry to the city’s overall economy and that it has grown strongly since the release of the first report on the industry in 2004. The report revealed that the exhibition industry continues to bring significant benefits to Hong Kong’s economy by contributing expenditure effects to and providing jobs for the exhibition industry as well as other service industries and supporting sectors including hotels, food and beverage, retail, stand design and construction, and logistics and freight forwarding.
Compared with the findings of the previous 2004 report, the results showed double-digit compound annual growth rates (CAGR) across all aspects of visitor and business-related expenditure, fiscal impact and employment generated from the exhibition industry.
The food and beverage (F&B), retail and hotel sectors were the largest recipients of direct visitor expenditure, accounting for more than 80 per cent, or HK$7 billion (US$897 million), in 2006.
Individually, F&B accounted for HK$2.6 billion (US$333 million), retail for HK$2.3 billion (US$294 million) and hotels, HK$2.1 billion (US$269 million). Business-related expenditure amounted to HK$5 billion (US$641 million) in 2006, representing a CARG of 31 per cent from 2004. This covers spending by event organisers and exhibitors. The segment created 58,500 full-time equivalent jobs, an increase of 11 per cent compared to 2004.
The report also showed that international exhibition visitors and exhibitors stay longer and spend more than overnight tourists. International exhibitors typically stay on average 70 per cent longer than overnight tourists, and spend 110 per cent more. International exhibition visitors typically stay on average 30 per cent longer than overnight tourists, and spend 120 per cent more.
International exhibitors and exhibition visitors intended to spend on average HK$10,106 (US$1296) and HK$10,732 (US$1376) per visit respectively, compared to HK$4799 (US$615) by overnight tourists. Commenting on the report, HKECIA Chairman, Stanley Chu said, “This report shows substantial increases in the economic impact of the exhibition industry across the board. To have double-digit compound annual growth is doubly impressive.”
The city of Hong Kong is steeped in history but certainly not stuck in the past. It seamlessly blends the old with the new, giving visitors a taste of the past while allowing them some of the simple pleasures of the modern world.
While the city has retained many of its old quarters, allowing for real exploration, it has also progressed and grown its offerings for tourists. Venues like Hong Kong Disneyland have helped the city retain some of its past visitors and attract new ones.
At first glance event planners may believe that the theme park is better suited to general tourists. But the simple fact is that the venue is already playing host to some fantastic events, courtesy of some forward-thinking planners who are looking “beyond the ballroom” for unique and interesting experiences.
Hong Kong Disneyland is not only well suited for partners’ programs, or for use as day or half-day tour options, but it is also making a name for itself as a spectacular off-site venue. Since opening it has hosted plenty of themed dinners and special events for a great raft of guests.
One of its most recent was a dinner to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the handover of Hong Kong to China. Hong Kong Disneyland, in conjunction with the Hong Kong Inbound Travel Association, hosted a dinner for more than 350 travel agents from the Asia region at the Royal Banquet Hall in the park.
Travel agents from the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and China gathered at the Royal Banquet Hall in the Hong Kong Disneyland Park as the first stop in the Hong Kong Inbound Travel Association’s familiarisation tour and Travel Mart update.
As a magical ending to the evening, guests were joined by Safari Mickey, Minnie, Jasmine, Aladdin and Carnival Goofy before heading out to watch ‘Disney in the Stars’.
It seems you can’t keep a good venue down, and the Langham Hotel Hong Kong, continues to impress meetings delegates and visitors. Earlier this year the impressive European-style venue, located in the heart of Kowloon’s busy commercial and entertainment districts was named as among the world’s Top 500 Hotels by Travel & Leisure Magazine.
A member of The Leading Hotels of the World, the hotel offers 495 luxurious rooms and suites, including two executive floors of Langham Hotel Club rooms, which act as a “hotel within a hotel” dedicated exclusively to the needs of the business travellers.
Another firm favourite in Hong Kong is Hong Kong’s Majestic Hotel, which will soon be relaunched as the Novotel Nathan Road Kowloon following a US$24 million upgrade later this year.
The 380-room hotel is located on Nathan Road in Kowloon, providing travellers to Hong Kong with easy access via MTR to Hong Kong’s main commercial and shopping districts on either side of the harbour. Acclaimed tourist attractions such as Jade Market and Temple Street Night Market are also in close vicinity.
Accor’s CEO Greater China, Brian Deeson, said that the hotel was an important addition to the group’s China network and builds on the success of the Novotel Century Hong Kong and Novotel Citygate, which opened in Tung Chung, near the airport, last year.
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