ENG-2020 — Page 341

19

Travel and Tourism

New Regulatory Regime

The Travel Industry Authority, a new statutory body responsible primarily for the licensing and regulation of travel agents, tourist guides and tour escorts, was established in January. The authority will take over the licensing and trade regulatory functions of the Travel Agents Registry and the TIC when the new regulatory regime is fully implemented.

Major Elements of Inbound Tourism

MICE

Hong Kong is a premier MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions) destination, offering world-class convention and exhibition facilities and a diversified range of tourist attractions. The pandemic meant that most MICE events were cancelled or postponed in 2020.

Cruise Tourism

Because of COVID-19, the government suspended immigration services at Hong Kong's two cruise terminals, Kai Tak Cruise Terminal and Ocean Terminal, from 5 February. Before that, there were 25 ship calls and total passenger throughput of about 100,000 in 2020.

Mega Events

The government adopts a multi-pronged strategy to support the staging of events varying in scale and nature, so as to tie in with the policy objectives of product diversification and attracting high-yield overnight visitors. Due to COVID-19, most mega events were postponed or cancelled. Those organised by HKTB in 2020 included the Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival and Hong Kong Winterfest, with the former including an online format in view of the pandemic.

Green Tourism

The Great Outdoors Hong Kong campaign promotes Hong Kong's natural landscape, rich biodiversity, hiking trails, cycling routes, UNESCO Global Geopark and trail running events via HKTB's website, guidebooks, social media platforms, visitor centres and a hotline. To enhance the tourist-friendliness of hiking trails with good tourism potential, the government commenced improvement works to the Lantau Trail Section 2, Dragon's Back and Shing Mun Reservoir Walk in 2020.

Tourism Infrastructure, Facilities and Attractions

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 theme parks, temples, heritage sites, the natural landscape, and the many shops that have earned Hong Kong the reputation as a shoppers' paradise. Accommodation options are also extensive, ranging from licensed guesthouses and youth hostels to luxury hotels. As at 31 December, 311 hotels and 1,462 licensed guesthouses provided about 86,700 and 12,300 rooms respectively.

281