ENG-1976 — Page 193

IMMIGRATION AND TOURISM

Hong Kong Tourist Association

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The Hong Kong Tourist Association (HKTA) is a statutory body on which the territory's tourist industry is widely represented. Its activities fall into three broad areas: promoting Hong Kong overseas as a tourist destination; providing informa- tion to tourists once they are in Hong Kong; and working for the improvement and development of Hong Kong for the greater enjoyment of visitors.

The HKTA has more than 120 staff in many parts of the world. The head office is in the Connaught Centre on the waterfront on Hong Kong Island, and there are eight overseas offices. They are in London, Paris, Frankfurt, New York, San Francisco, Johannesburg, Tokyo and Sydney. The HKTA is also represented throughout South- east Asia and Japan and in the United States and Australia. Information offices in Hong Kong are located at Kai Tak airport and at the Star Ferry concourses. There is also an information counter at the World Trade Centre in Causeway Bay.

The membership department handles liaison with members of the association and also deals with any complaints that visitors may have about goods or services. Membership in 1976 was 1,157, of whom 265 were ordinary members and 892 were associate members.

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A number of publications are produced by the HKTA. Some are for the inter- national travel trade and for the local tourist industry, but the majority are for visitors. They include a range of nine information leaflets, a guidebook, maps, and many special publications-some of which have been translated into several languages, in- cluding Japanese, Chinese, German, Spanish, French, Malay and Thai.

Promotions

The HKTA's promotional work during 1976 was focussed on the travel trade and the worldwide media, although there were some promotions directed towards the

consumer.

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A two-week tourism mission to Japan in August travelled to five key cities in- cluding Tokyo and Osaka. There were audio visual presentations, seminars, luncheons and receptions at which the HKTA delegation met more than 820 members of the Japanese travel trade. An updated HKTA tour planning guide was the focal point of the promotions, the emphasis being placed on sectors of the market with good growth potential, such as honeymoon couples and young women.

Again in Japan, a team of ice carvers from the Sheraton-Hong Kong Hotel took first prize in an ice carving competition organised for the Sapporo Snow Festival. They were part of a Hong Kong travel industry team which visited Japan to promote Hong Kong at the festival and at subsequent travel trade presentations in Sapporo and Sendai. Their achievement brought wide television and press coverage for Hong Kong's team. The HKTA also took part in the Osaka Trade Fair in April-May.

A Hong Kong Week was held in Kuala Lumpur in March and in Singapore in September. Both promotions featured Hong Kong craftsmen and, in Singapore, there were fashion shows which included Chinese traditional costumes from Shaw Brothers film studios and clothing from a Hong Kong boutique.