HK to target operators with trip
UK tour operators will be invited on a fam trip to Hong Kong this May as part of a campaign costing £31.8 million to promote the destination.
The money has been earmarked by the Hong Kong Tourist Board to launch the 2006 Discover Hong Kong Year campaign. It follows a decision by the government to increase tourism funding in a bid to get visitor numbers up to 27.14 million during 2007.
HKTB has also revised this year’s figures in light of the extra funding and is increasing its target for visitor numbers from 22.9 to 23.4 million for 2005.
Details of the trip are sketchy at this time, but tour operators specialising in Hong Kong are likely to be invited by HKTB and the three-day trip will include visits to Hong Kong’s latest attractions and provide trade participants with details of what to expect from the Discover Hong Kong Year campaign.
New attractions include Hong Kong Disneyland, Hong Kong Wetland Park and Tung Chung Cable Car, which are set to open this year.
A spokesperson for HKTB told TravelMole that although agents will not be invited on the May trip, HKTB will continue to run annual trips for its specialist agents.
Families and business travellers are key markets for the campaign, according to HKTB, as they are big spenders. Currently 36% of Hong Kong’s visitors have children, but only 24% bring their children with them.
Report by Ginny McGrath
Ginny McGrath
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