Letters | 2 ways Hong Kong can entice mainland China tourists to stay longer, spend more

Readers discuss initiatives to account for changing visitor trends, poor service at restaurants, and a recently held golf tournament

Hong Kong economy

Letters

Published: 11:30am, 19 Mar 2024

Why you can trust SCMP

Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at [email protected] or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification.

As a licenced tourist guide and tour escort deeply entrenched in the vibrant ecosystem of Hong Kong’s tourism industry, I have observed a significant shift in the behaviour of mainland tourists post-pandemic. Traditionally, these visitors have been the cornerstone of our tourism revenue, but recent trends indicate a pivot towards shorter, more economical visits, with many opting for day returns rather than extended stays.

While the government’s initiatives and the “Development Blueprint for Hong Kong’s Tourism Industry 2.0” are commendable steps towards rejuvenating our tourism sector, there is an urgent need for strategies that specifically address the evolving preferences of our largest visitor demographic. To this end, two targeted solutions designed to entice mainland tourists to not only extend their stays but also enhance their spending within our city could be considered by the government.

Inspired by the success of the Australian Tourism Data Warehouse, I propose the creation of a more advanced personalised digital itinerary platform by the Hong Kong Tourism Board to revolutionise how visitors explore the city. This platform should allow visitors to customise their itineraries based on personal interests, time constraints and budgets, uncovering the “hidden gems” of Hong Kong that lie beyond the usual tourist spots, embracing our unique ability to transition from skyscraper vistas to verdant trails within an hour – a rare attribute around the world.

With real-time feedback and AI-driven recommendations, the platform could offer a tailored exploration of our city’s rich culture and natural beauty, encouraging deeper engagement and longer stays.

Further, to directly address the trend of brief visits, developing attractive incentive packages for extended stays is crucial. By collaborating with hotels, airlines and local businesses, we can offer deals, such as hotel discounts, exclusive access to attractions, and shopping vouchers, along with a loyalty programme that rewards longer stays, providing compelling reasons for tourists to prolong their visits. Such incentives will invariably enhance the overall visitor experience, showcasing the best of what Hong Kong has to offer.

These strategic solutions aim to address the current shift in visitor behaviour by offering unique, value-added experiences and tangible reasons for tourists from the mainland to extend their stays. As a part of Hong Kong’s tourism sector, I believe these initiatives can foster a more sustainable tourism model that benefits both our city and its visitors. It is time for us to leverage innovation to welcome a new era of tourism in Hong Kong.

Yeung Man Fung, Mid-Levels

City needs to better train service staff

I would like to share my own experience in connection with the letter, “Fireworks can only be the icing on the cake” (March 12).

I recently entertained two former colleagues from Shanghai who were visiting Hong Kong for the first time after Covid-19. They admired our beautiful harbour, skyline and architecture in Central and were truly impressed.

I then took them to a rather famous pizza restaurant in Central for lunch. The waitress serving us was very rude and impatient. I tried ordering in English, Cantonese and then Mandarin. She pretended she could not understand and behaved as if she was a lot more than a waitress.

My friends were appalled by this service in Hong Kong and I was hugely embarrassed, not to mention that we paid a hefty bill. While Hong Kong is struggling to rebuild its tourism industry, we cannot allow black sheep and poor service providers to hinder our efforts, leaving visitors with a bad impression.

As a local, I have tolerated many, many episodes of bad service with a shrug. But the awful encounter at this restaurant made me wonder: can we be more hospitable and better train our front-line service workers?

Tourists are attracted by experiences that they would remember fondly.

Cecilia Ng, Pok Fu Lam

Golf course plan played city into fairway bunker

I refer to your editorial, “LIV Golf delivers hole in one for the city” (March 12). I agree that congratulations are due to the Hong Kong Golf Club for successfully hosting the “mega event” at the Fanling golf course. The editorial rightly pointed out that the government-funded spectacle boosted both the city’s economy and its international profile.

However, your editorial fails to mention that by deciding to slice off part of the old course for housing development, the government has played itself into a fairway bunker and missed the green. Our officials should realise that these mega events require the full golf course facilities.

As in the past, this course has proven to be up to par and a valuable Hong Kong asset. It would be a great shame if international golfing events, such as this LIV tournament, do not make the cut in future.

Frank Lee, Wan Chai

Post