With an overview on tourism trends and HKTB’s latest strategic plans, Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) hosted Hong Kong Tourism Overview 2023 in an in-person format for the first time since the city returned to normal after Covid-19 pandemic.

With the aptly-named theme Striding Forward in a Steady Recovery, the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) organised the Hong Kong Tourism Overview 2023 in a physical format for the first time since the city returned to normalcy after the Covid-19 pandemic.

Organised in the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, the Tourism Overview focussed on tourism trends and shared details of the HKTB’s latest strategic plans that included with over 1,600 participants on-site and online, including trade representatives from Hong Kong, mainland and overseas travel agencies, attractions, hotels, airlines, retailers, restaurants, meeting and exhibition operators, cruise lines, and other travel sectors, says HKTB in a press statement.

“Hong Kong has returned to normal and is welcoming back global visitors. The tourism industry will recover progressively. The Tourism Overview today is the exact platform that gathers members of the travel trade together to explore the way to revive the city’s tourism industry. Hong Kong is not only a destination with universal appeal and an astonishing array of attractions, but also a gateway between the Mainland and the rest of the world. We can work with neighbouring cities to build a Greater Bay Area tourism brand for the region and the international market. With the continued collaboration of all sectors, we can bring Hong Kong’s tourism to the next level of excellence,” Pang Yiu-kai, Chairman of the Hong Kong Tourism Board, said on the occasion.

The statement adds that Dane Cheng, HKTB Executive Director proposed HKTB’s four strategic focuses for the coming year in his business update. The HKTB will, in the first place, enhance Hong Kong as an event capital while fostering a robust recovery in all travel-related sectors. The Greater Bay Area (GBA) and multi-destination tourism are other initiatives that the HKTB envisions to keep advancing. It will also continue to work closely with the industry to bolster and strengthen assistance for them, raising the calibre of services.

A Deep Dive into the post pandemic Mainland Travel Trends and Global & Regional Consumer Trends affecting Tourism in Asia in 2023 were some other themes that the event explored, with the HKTB inviting industry leaders and international corporate representatives to share insights on the same. The discussions provided multi-perspective insights into the post-pandemic trends and development of tourism and capturing new opportunities.

“Chinese mainland travellers continue to show a strong desire for outbound travel and Hong Kong is no doubt a top-ranked destination. It is important for the travel industry to adapt and innovate to meet their changing demands. We are committed to providing a variety of travel options in collaboration with our valuable partners in Hong Kong and to delivering memorable trips and experiences for travellers from the Chinese Mainland and around the world,” Jane Sun, Chief Executive Officer of Trip.com Group said.

“Chinese mainland travellers continue to show a strong desire for outbound travel and Hong Kong is no doubt a top-ranked destination. It is important for the travel industry to adapt and innovate to meet their changing demands. We are committed to providing a variety of travel options in collaboration with our valuable partners in Hong Kong and to delivering memorable trips and experiences for travellers from the Chinese Mainland and around the world,” she added, analysing the post-pandemic travel trends in Mainland markets.

“Hong Kong is back for tourists and business and it is expected that the APAC region will return to become the largest regional travel market by 2025. To stay ahead of the game, the travel and retail industry should be ready to innovate and capture the opportunity to meet today’s consumers, especially the rising Gen Z consumers’ needs. Hong Kong is going to be the hub for tech and innovation, with ESG on the rise. Lastly, our people are always the key asset in showcasing the best of Hong Kong’s travel and tourism offerings,” Anson Bailey, Head of Consumer and Retail, ASPAC, KPMG China, said.