Thank you, Deputy President. The concept of “Tourism is everywhere in Hong Kong” proposed by Director XIA actually encourages us to explore the cultural treasures in our local communities from a micro perspective. The Government announced earlier that more than 210 mega events will be held this year. However, hosting mega events is only one of the strategies to promote tourism. This time, I would like to focus on discussing how we can pursue the concept of “Tourism is everywhere”. I would like to thank Mr Benson LUK for proposing this meaningful motion today.
Hong Kong itself has a wealth of unique characteristics and cultural heritage, which, if reinvented, can also attract tourists. All 480 items of Hong Kong’s intangible cultural heritage (“ICH”) are worthy of our preservation, among which 12 have even been inscribed onto the list of national ICH, including the Cheung Chau Jiao Festival, the Tai O dragon boat water parade, the Tai Hang fire dragon dance, the Wong Tai Sin belief and customs, the cheongsam, Cantonese opera and herbal tea. Some of them have already become famous scenic spots, such as Wong Tai Sin, Cheung Chau and Tai O. Others, such as herbal tea, the cheongsam and the arts of guqin, all of which have profound cultural heritage and many stories to tell, can also be promoted as cultural tourism destinations with orchestrated design. In fact, cultural tourism is only a niche activity in Hong Kong, but many people in the Mainland love arts and culture and choose cultural tours when they travel. As long as we do it well, we need not worry about the source of tourists.
Hong Kong possesses cultural treasures of national and even global significance that are worthy of our vigorous development, such as Jin Yong and martial arts novels, as well as Bruce LEE and Hong Kong martial arts films. Jin Yong and Bruce LEE are both icons of Hong Kong. In recent years, the Government has attached great importance to their contributions and influence by organizing a number of exhibitions and activities to commemorate them. However, we still do not have permanent, dedicated memorial halls for them, even though they are emblematic of Chinese culture and timelessly cherished by admirers and supporters. Furthermore, as Hong Kong martial arts films and martial arts novels are famous all over the world, if we could build dedicated cultural museums, it would certainly attract a large number of tourists to Hong Kong.
In addition, in order to pursue the concept of “Tourism is everywhere”, we must have a deep understanding of the unique characteristics of each district. In fact, many tourist attractions are hidden in everyday life and do not need to be operated deliberately. Mainland tourists are fond of the nostalgic essence of Hong Kong. For example, a coffee shop on Peel Street in Soho, Central, has recently become a popular “check-in” hotspot. Sitting on the stone steps outside the café and taking pictures of their brunch to “check in”, this casual attitude to life is what they perceive as the “essence of Hong Kong”. Ordinary streets can also be crowded with tourists, precisely reflecting that tourist attractions do not necessarily have to be upscale; being “down-to-earth” is another distinguishing feature. Here, I would like to make one point in particular. Times have changed, yet many operators have not adapted their business models accordingly, often complaining of a lack of customers and business. In fact, as long as these small shops know how to be flexible and make good use of social media for promotion, their business will simply continue to thrive.
Hong Kong people love to travel to Japan. If they are manga fans, they must have visited the railroad crossing near Enoden Kamakurakokomae Station. This is where scenes from Slam Dunk are depicted. In recent years, this place has attracted a large number of tourists to “check in”. Many tourists have blocked the crossing and caused danger in their pursuit of taking pictures of scenes from the manga, adversely affecting the lives of local residents. Here, I would also like to raise a thought-provoking question: While pursuing the concept of “Tourism is everywhere”, how can we balance the development of the tourism industry and its impact on the community, thereby improving Hong Kong’s overall capacity to receive tourists?
Hong Kong’s tourism industry should actively seek change and pursue the concept of “Tourism is everywhere”. By making full use of Hong Kong’s unique characteristics, the industry can achieve the goal of “having tourist hotspots in each of the 18 districts”, thereby preventing the concentration of tourist traffic in only popular areas and ensuring the stable and orderly development of the tourism industry.
Thank you, Deputy President.