ENG-2015 — Page 360

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Travel and Tourism

Congress of Anaesthesiologists 2016, Million Dollar Round Table Experience and Global Conference 2016, 26th International Congress of the Transplantation Society 2016, 55th Orient and Southeast Asian Lions Forum 2016, 38th Asia Pacific Dental Congress 2016, World Sustainable Built Environment 2017, and 25th Asian and Oceanic Congress of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 2017.

Cruise Tourism

The Kai Tak Cruise Terminal, built on the site of the former Kai Tak airport runway and commissioned in June 2013, is capable of accommodating two cruise ships with a gross tonnage of up to 220,000 tons each. In 2015, the terminal handled 56 ship calls involving a total of 75 days. Total passenger throughput exceeded 260,000. The number of ship calls is expected to continue to increase in the coming years.

The board will continue to promote regional co-operation of the cruise industry with neighbouring ports through the Asia Cruise Fund, launched in April 2014. The fund provides incentives for cruise lines to include ports in the region, including Hong Kong, in their itineraries.

Mega Events

Hong Kong recognises that large-scale events enrich visitors' travel experience and add colour and vibrancy to the city. The government's Mega Events Fund has supported 27 events since being established in 2009 to encourage the staging of such events. In April 2012, the Legislative Council's Finance Committee approved $150 million to extend the fund's operation for a further five years to attract more mega events.

Mega events organised by the board in 2015 included the International Chinese New Year Parade, Hong Kong Dragon Boat Carnival, Hong Kong Pulse 3D Light Show, the debut Hong Kong Cyclothon, Hong Kong Wine and Dine Festival, Hong Kong WinterFest and New Year countdown celebrations.

Green Tourism

The board's Great Outdoors Hong Kong campaign promotes the Hong Kong Global Geopark of China, the natural scenery of outlying islands, hiking trails and other green attractions. These attractions continued to be showcased in 2015 via various channels, including the board's official website, guidebooks, mobile applications, social media platforms, visitor centres and a hotline.

Tourism Infrastructure, Facilities and Products

Hong Kong has something for everyone - the sightseer, the food lover, the shopper, the family, the businessman, the leisure traveller, the young and the old. Topping the popularity list of sightseeing spots is The Peak, which provides a panoramic view of Hong Kong Island, the Kowloon Peninsula and Victoria Harbour. Other attractions include the theme parks, temples, heritage sites, natural landscape, and the many shops that have earned Hong Kong the reputation as a shoppers' paradise. Accommodation options are also aplenty, ranging from

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