Letters | Move over America, future of tourism lies in Asia and the Middle East
- Readers discuss why the US has lost its appeal as a tourist destination for some in Asia, and how Hong Kong can boost its attractiveness to visitors
Growing up, many of us loved visiting the United States, whether for the theme parks or larger-than-life experiences.
But today my children love places like Dubai and Singapore because the theme parks there are so well-maintained. Also, Asia and the United Arab Emirates are easy to travel around. In the first place, I don’t think my children are interested in 16-hour plane journeys. And we would rather pay for luxury near home than go to the US and pay to do everything ourselves.
The world is changing. The future of tourism is in Asia and the UAE. It’s safe, luxurious and yet cost-effective. And perhaps education and other sectors will become big draws for Asia and the Middle East.
Rishi Teckchandani, Mid-Levels
Hong Kong needs a makeover to attract visitors
Hongkongers have endured several years of hardship – the protests which became violent and then three years of Covid-19. And yes, it will take us time to revive Hong Kong’s can-do spirit.
As your correspondent says, to attract international visitors and showcase Hong Kong as a “city of hospitality”, we must improve our infrastructure. We particularly need to pay attention to road maintenance and the beautification of our thoroughfares.
And then there’s the attitude of people in the service industry, from salespeople in stores to taxi drivers. We seriously need to launch a charm offensive if we are to bring back tourists.
Visiting friends recently travelled to mainland China and had issues with their visas. On the mainland side, they were greeted with help and consideration but on the Hong Kong side, they encountered rudeness. What sort of message does this send when these visitors tell of their experiences back home?
A taxi driver can be a big part of a tourist’s first encounter with the city. Many drivers are very accommodating but some are just downright rude and miserable, and so often have poor driving skills.
Finally, the decreasing use of English is not helping us. Any international city must have proficient English speakers. So many pamphlets are written in Chinese with barely any English translation.
We must do better if we are to revive the economy and improve the lot of all in our beautiful city.
Marguerite Lee, Mid-Levels