ENG-1966 — Page 227

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IMMIGRATION AND TOURISM

A major part of the work of the Tourist Association is concerned with the promotion of Hong Kong in the more important travel- generating countries of the world, and during 1966 the Association was particularly active in the specialized field of trade fairs and displays. A close working relationship with the newly formed Trade Development Council has already achieved tangible results. Trade fairs in which the Tourist Association was represented were held in Barcelona and Stockholm, as a result of which special trade and tourist groups have visited Hong Kong. Arrangements are in hand for more such groups to follow. In the field of department store promotion the Tourist Association participated in the Hong Kong displays staged at Macy's of New York, at a number of other stores associated with Macy's on the eastern seaboard of the United States, at Selfridge's in London and at Breuninger's in Stuttgart. At all these events the display material and special brochures on Hong Kong produced by the Tourist Association proved highly acceptable and the staff representing the Association showed themselves to be both expert and efficient.

Another special promotion effort carried through with outstand- ing success, and in which the Tourist Association participated fully, was conducted by a team of representatives of Cathay Pacific Airways, Canadian Pacific Airlines and the Hong Kong Tourist Association who visited 14 cities in the United States in which seminars and working receptions were held. The cities were Seattle, Portland, Philadelphia, Washington, Boston, New York, Cleveland, Detroit, Kansas City, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Films, slide shows and high-quality commentaries played an important part in this work. It is hoped to use this form of promotion again in the near future.

Much work was done by the Association during the year to promote and develop tourist consciousness within Hong Kong. Every effort is being made to protect the interests of visitors from abroad and at the same time to urge merchants to give good service and good value.

Hong Kong, through its Tourist Association, participates actively in a number of regional and international travel and tourist or- ganizations. In 1966 an East Asia Travel Association was formed,