The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) and Art Basel have inked a new three-year global partnership. The HKTB is the first tourism organisation to enter into a global strategic partnership with Art Basel. The collaboration will extend beyond Hong Kong to all Art Basel shows worldwide, beginning with Art Basel Paris this October. As part of the alliance, HKTB will serve as a Show Partner of Art Basel and celebrate Hong Kong art and culture on the world stage. Over the next three years, HKTB will be present in four annual shows, including Art Basel in Paris, Miami Beach, Hong Kong, and Basel. It will showcase thematic experiences or activations. Dane Cheng, HKTB Executive Director, said: “We hope to inspire travellers to visit our city and discover its thriving creative community.” Debuting in Hong Kong in 2013, Art Basel has collaborated with HKTB on several successful projects together since 2020. This March, the tourism board joined hands with the fair to present a local “Cha Chaan Teng” experience highlighting the living culture of Hong Kong. The three-year partnership will kick off at Art Basel Paris, taking place at the Grand Palais from October 18-20, 2024. 

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Hong Kong is easy to visit on your own as a first-time or return visitor. The must-visit places can be covered in one day, including a half-day walk around bustling Kowloon, on the southern tip of the China mainland (and maybe a short subway or taxi ride to Sham Shui Po).  Lunch on street food or at a Michelin Star restaurant and then jump on the famed Star Ferry for a quick ride over to Hong Kong Island and walk over for the cable car up Victoria Peak to view the skyline, Victoria Harboir, surrounding islands, and luxury residential areas.   Then check out Old Town Central and its numerous famed markets on foot and return to Kowloon by ferry or subway (reverse itinerary if your hotel is on Hong Kong Island). Due to slow car traffic, you are better off walking or taking their easy-to-use subway system. There is an array of stunning open-air experiences for hiking and cycling, to view and experience vintage Hong Kong, since 40% of the region's land is designated as country parks.   Tour guide Virginia Chan recommends offbeat (and off-the-beaten-track) tips to discover unique sides to Hong Kong, away from the crowds:   Hiking to Lion Rock, is the best way to escape the city The trail starts at Tsz Wan Kok Temple.   The 2.5-hour hike to Lion Rock offers amazing panoramic views over Kowloon, towards Victoria Harbour and Hong Kong Island.   Bike from Tai Po to Tai Mei Tuk Along the way, you'll pass by the Fung Yuen butterfly reserve as well as Tai Wong Yeh temple, built in the 18th Century. Most striking of all, however, is the huge 76m white statue of Guan Yin, the Buddhist goddess of mercy, at Tsz Shan Monastery. For this relatively easy ride, you can rent your bike and helmet near the start of the trail at Tai Po market, then return it at their shop near Tai Mei Tuk from where you walk into the village. See vintage Hong Kong: Lai Chi Wo Lai Chi Wo is one of the best-preserved Hakka walled villages in Hong Kong that sits within the 150 sq km Unesco Hong Kong Geopark in the northern New Territories region. The only way to get there is a two-hour hike or on a small, slow ferry that runs on weekends and public holidays. Whichever way you choose. Read the full article by Chris Dwyer on BBC ‘Virginia Chan's six offbeat experiences in Hong Kong’ here.

Hong Kong has welcomed over 10 million visitors in the first five months of 2023. Data from the Hong Kong Tourism Board showed a good start to the year but officials fear the lack of international flights compared to pre-Covid will slow the full recovery. The last two months of 2023 saw Hong Kong tourism numbers recover to about 50% of pre-Covid levels. Visitor numbers from the mainland and Southeast Asia are recovering fastest at 60% of 2019 levels. The HKTB said that it would partner with China mainland based travel platforms to promote high-speed train travel to Hong Kong for the Dragon Boat Festival holidays and summer trips.  

Hong Kong finally lifted its mask mandate after 945 days. Compulsory mask wearing began in 2020 with hefty HK$5,000 fines dished out for non-compliance. "With the removal of the mandate, Hong Kong will return to normalcy," HK leader John Lee said last week. Up until last week everyone was required to wear masks in public areas. Following mainland China protocols, the Hong Kong mask mandate and other Covid rules were among the most stringent in the world. It had undoubtedly damaged the tourism industry. Tourism is now slowly getting back on its feet, fueled by a free giveaway of 500,000 flight tickets to foreign travellers.

Hong Kong is now welcoming business travellers back as MICE events return. This year Hong Kong has more than 100 international MICE events scheduled. Some events are being held for the first time in Hong Kong and the region. Hong Kong will also welcome back regular events, returning after the pandemic. Key MICE leaders in Hong Kong joined in the “Hello Hong Kong” campaign to attract large MICE events back. To welcome convention visitors, the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) curated a series of exclusive ‘Hong Kong Goodies.’ They include an Octopus smart e-payment card, welcome drinks, museum tickets and airport lounge access.  

Hong Kong is banking on a swift tourism recovery by giving away 500,000 Hong Kong flights, The flights will be offered to foreign travellers from March 1. The free Hong Kong flights will be available via travel agents and the overseas offices of Hong Kong's airlines. These are Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong Express and Hong Kong Airlines. The freebie travel campaign will initially focus on Southeast Asia and then Northeast Asian countries. Another 160,000 free tickets would also be given to HK residents and other people in nearby Chinese cities in the Greater Bay Area. In addition, one million vouchers will be distributed, which can be redeemed for attractions, shopping and food.

Hong Kong tourism is set to fully resume as the HK government lifts arrival control measures for inbound travelers. It also scrapped the Vaccine Pass. Dr Pang Yiu-kai, Chairman of the HKTB said, "The new measures mark a key milestone for tourism revival." “Visitors can now fully enjoy the diverse offerings of Hong Kong tourism.” The move is expected to see increased seat capacity into Hong Kong. Macau-Hong Kong ferry services resume this weekend. Inbound travellers to Hong Kong only require a negative result from a PCR test within 48 hours or a rapid antigen test within 24 hours before departure.

Hong Kong Christmas becomes a winter wonderland this festive season. Hong Kong WinterFest celebrates with yuletide events across the city.   Here's what to expect this festive season:   Christmas Town Hong Kong's arts centre, the West Kowloon Cultural District, is turned into Christmas Town. It is taken over by Christmas trees decorated with dazzling lights, against the backdrop of Hong Kong's skyline.   Unicorn Merry-Go-Round Paradise The Harbour City shopping centre transforms the Ocean Terminal Forecourt into Unicorn Merry-Go-Round Paradise, for fans of fairy tales. There are Christmas trees and unicorn décor, plus a pop-up shop with unicorn-themed gifts and food.   Christmas Wonderland Christmas Wonderland at the West Kowloon Cultural District showcases its festive lodges. Each has a special festive surprise inside, from live music to craft workshops. Santa Claus will also be there to meet kids.   A Disney Christmas Hong Kong Disneyland feaures varied Christmas celebrations this season with A Disney Christmas. Highlights include Disney Live in Concert, and the Holiday Wish-Come-True Tree Lighting. One guest every night is invited to lead the tree lighting celebrations.

Hong Kong hopes to fast-track its tourism recovery by dishing out 500,000 free airline tickets It will cost about HK$2bn ($254.8m; as it tries to recapture its major air hub status. Hong Kong has started easing some Covid curbs in recent weeks. The government is in discussions with airlines and will launch the free ticket campaign once airlines build back their schedules. "The airport authority will finalise the arrangement with airlines. Once the government announces it will remove all Covid-19 restrictions for inbound travellers, we'll roll out the advertising campaigns for the free tickets," said Dane Cheng, executive director of the Hong Kong Tourism Board. This week Virgin Atlantic announced it will cease flying to Hong Kong after serving the city for 30 years. Hong Kong recently dropped hotel quarantine and the requirement for a negative pre-travel Covid test.

One of Hong Kong’s most iconic attractions is back on track. The Peak Tram, which travels up Victoria Peak, has reopened. It spent a year closed during Covid for a majorHK$799m revamp. It includes a redeveloped terminus and new tramcar interiors. Asia’s oldest funicular dates back to 1888. Before the pandemic it carried over six million riders annually. The return ticket price has increased nearly 70%. "I hope all visitors will feel it's worth the price," said May Tsang, general manager of tram operator the Peak Complex. "We have to consider the increase in our operating costs and the long-term sustainability of our business."  

Hong Kong is finally lifting its foreign tourist i ban for the first time in over two years. Hong Kong said it would allow visitors from May 1, easing some of the world’ strictest border controls. The surprise move came after certain venues like gyms, cinemas and theme parks were allowed to reopen. Mandatory hotel quarantine is one week, and was previously 21 days as part of its ongoing zero-Covid policy. The city welcomed about 56 million visitors a year before the pandemic.

The Hong Kong Tourism Board welcomed an additional HK$600 million on top of its regular funding to help boost tourism recovery efforts. The HKTB will also earmark HK$100 million from its reserves for marketing initiatives. The HKTB will continue to drive local tourism for supporting the trade and stimulating the local economy while gearing up for international travel resumption, starting with promotions in the Greater Bay Area (GBA) and other Mainland cities. When cross-boundary/border travel gradually resumes, the HKTB will launch various promotions to attract visitors. “The budget has specially allocated more resources for developing arts and culture and promoting cultural, heritage and green tourism projects. These initiatives not only help strengthen Hong Kong’s new positioning but also benefit the long-term development of the tourism industry tremendously,” HKTB Chairman Dr Y K Pang said. The HKTB always stands ready and remains agile in its work with consideration of the latest pandemic development, in order to drive the rapid recovery of the tourism industry.” The government also unveiled a three-year ‘Cultural and Heritage Sites Local Tour Incentive Scheme’, support for the ‘Green Lifestyle Local Tour Incentive Scheme’ and sponsoring training of tourism practitioners.