'Politeness campaign' for tourism

The Tourism Board is planning to roll out a "politeness campaign" aimed at building a polite atmosphere that will enhance tourists' experience when visiting the SAR, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Kevin Yeung Yun-hung said.

Yeung stressed the importance of improving the city's hospitality to tourists and fostering Hongkongers' spirit of respecting and helping others.

He encouraged all citizens to participate in the campaign and introduce Hong Kong's unique characteristics to travelers.

"Tourists don't only visit major sightseeing spots, but they also enter the community like other citizens. Therefore, all Hongkongers should know that they may receive a tourist someday," he said.

To promote the campaign, a TV reality show will be broadcast within the month, followed by other major promotional events.

Yeung also said that discussions are underway with the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau and Education Bureau to establish a polite atmosphere in the city, reflecting a collaborative effort across government departments.

While the number of tourists has returned to 70 percent of prepandemic levels, Yeung said the focus should not solely be on surpassing previous years' figures but rather on analyzing recent data and finding ways to improve.

He hoped this year's visitor count could reach at least 46 million, with an average stay of 3.2 nights and a minimum expenditure of HK$5,800 per visitor.

Yeung also said that the planned monthly fireworks and drone shows are not the only means of attracting tourists, adding that there are also numerous large-scale events planned for the year, aimed at complementing each other to encourage tourists to extend their stay.

"Since tourists have already come to the SAR for the major events, they may stay in the city for dinner or spend another night here, anticipating nightly performances," Yeung said.

In addition to promoting in-depth tourism, including the CityWalk event, the Tourism Board intends to train tour guides for local trips, further enhancing the overall tourist experience in the city.

wallis.wang@singtaonewscorp.com