Tourism

A premier tourist destination, Hong Kong is a unique blend of East and West, featuring Chinese traditions, British colonial heritage, high-tech modernity and Cantonese gusto. Hong Kong offers a diverse and exciting travel experience —great shopping, dining, theme parks, countryside pursuits, arts, culture and sports events. It also has many heritage attractions in the form of temples, monasteries, walled villages, clan halls and colonial structures.

The recovering global economy has given Hong Kong tourism a tremendous boost. In 2010, visitor arrivals registered a robust growth of 21.8 per cent, reaching an all-time record of 36.03 million. Total spending by inbound tourists was estimated at $212.6 billion. The Mainland remained the largest source of visitors, with 22.68 million Mainlanders visiting Hong Kong in 2010, an increase of 26.3 per cent on 2009.

Tourism Development

The Government attaches great importance to enhancing Hong Kong’s attractiveness as a travel destination and has invested heavily in the city’s tourism infrastructure over the past few years.

Noah’s Ark and Hong Kong National Geopark were opened in 2009. The Ngong Ping Piazza, featuring a Buddhist theme and linking various attractions in Ngong Ping, was completed. The daily ‘Symphony of Lights’ is recognised as the world’s ‘Largest Permanent Light and Sound Show’ by Guinness World Records.

To further enhance Hong Kong's position as a leading regional cruise hub, the Government is developing a world-class cruise terminal at Kai Tak in full swing. When the first berth and the terminal building to be completed in mid-2013, it will be able to accommodate the largest cruise ships in the world.

Hong Kong Disneyland, which has just celebrated its 5th Anniversary, is being expanded. The park will be enlarged by about 23 per cent, with more than 30 new attractions to be completed by mid-2014, bringing the total number of attractions to over 100.

The redevelopment project of Ocean Park is pressing ahead. On completion in 2012, it will be a world-class marine theme park, featuring more than 70 attractions.

Hong Kongis a gourmet’s paradise and a leading wine hub. The Hong Kong Wine and Dine Festival has become an annual signature event of Hong Kong. The Michelin Guide Hong Kong Macau 2011 features 215 local culinary attractions.

To enrich the travel experience of visitors, Hong Kong is developing more signature events. In 2010, the ‘Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Carnival’, with support from the Mega Event Fund, took place on 23 to 25 July at the East Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade. It attracted over 140 000 participants and received extensive local and international media coverage.

Immigration

Hong Kong’s autonomous, liberal immigration policy allows nationals of about 170 countries and territories visa-free stays ranging from seven to 180 days.

Professionals with special skills, knowledge or experience not readily available in Hong Kong and business people who are in a position to make substantial contributions to Hong Kong’s economy are welcome to work and invest in Hong Kong. Persons coming to work, study, establish or join in any business or to take up residence in the HKSAR are required to obtain an appropriate visa or entry permit before arrival.

Cross-boundary Traffic

Cross-boundary vehicular traffic increased year-on-year by 6.6 per cent in 2010. The Lo Wu land crossing, handled an average of 250 000 passengers daily. The Lok Ma Chau Spur Line — the second rail link to the Mainland — handled an average of about 79 000 passengers daily.

In 2010, the four road crossing points between Hong Kong and the Mainland, namely Lok Ma Chau, Sha Tau Kok, Man Kam To and the Shenzhen Bay Port, handled an average of 43 000 vehicles per day. The total daily traveller flow across the four crossings averaged 160 000.

Cross-boundary ferry services to 13 Mainland ports and Macao run from the China Ferry Terminal in Kowloon and the Hong Kong-Macao Ferry Terminal on Hong Kong Island. In 2010, the passenger throughput to the Mainland and Macao was about 4.5 million and 19.7 million respectively. These passengers travelled on the world’s largest fleet of high-speed craft including jetfoils and catamarans.

Inward and Outward Traffic

Hong Kongis one of the world’s busiest ports in terms of vessel arrivals and departures. In 2010, some 425 200 vessels arrived and departed from Hong Kong, carrying about 26.7 million passengers.

Hong KongInternational Airportis also one of the busiest in the world. In 2010, 49.77 million passengers passed through the airport. Aircraft movements totaled 306 533.

Leisure and Culture

Hong Kong’s universal appeal is evident in a variety of leisure and cultural options, a reflection of the city’s cosmopolitan population and its diverse range of pastimes. The Government nurtures an environment in which artistic freedom, pluralistic development of the arts, sporting excellence and community recreation can thrive.

Cultural and Leisure Events

Hong Kong hosts a variety of cultural and leisure events, including the premier arts event, the annual Hong Kong Arts Festival, the Hong Kong International Film Festival, Le French May Arts Festival, the Chinese Opera Festival, the International Arts Carnival, the New Vision/World’s Cultures Arts Festival and the Hong Kong Flower Show, as well as many traditional festive celebration programmes.

Sporting Events

Major sporting events held in Hong Kong include the annual Hong Kong Sevens (rugby), Hong Kong Marathon, Hong Kong Cricket Sixes, Hong Kong Open Championship (golf), Hong Kong Tennis Classic, Hong Kong Squash Open, the Hong Kong Open Badminton Super Series, Hong Kong ITU Triathlon Asian Cup, FIVB World Grand Prix - Hong Kong (volleyball), and Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Regatta.

Museums

Hong Kong’s mix of traditions — Chinese and Western, historical and modern — can best be seen in its museums and galleries. Museums such as the Hong Kong Museum of Art showcase collections of magnificent Chinese antiquities and contemporary works of art.

Alternatively, there are stimulating interactive exhibits at Hong Kong Science Museum and wide-screen Omnimax films at Hong Kong Space Museum. Hong Kong Museum of History and Hong Kong Heritage Museum present the historical and cultural aspects of Hong Kong.

The fascinating Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware, housed in a historical building at Hong Kong Park, shows the history and importance of tea in Chinese culture.

Country Parks

About 40 per cent of Hong Kong’s total land area is reserved for conservation and recreation. Encompassing 24 country parks and 17 special areas, Hong Kong’s extensive green belt is popular with hikers, nature lovers and tourists. There are also four marine parks and one marine reserve, occupying a total area of about 2 500 hectares. They comprise scenic coastal areas, seascapes and important eco-habitats.

MaiPo InnerDeep BayRamsar Site

The Mai Po Marshes and Inner Deep Bay area is listed as a “Wetland of International Importance” under the Ramsar Convention.  It is one of the most important over-wintering sites in Asia for migratory birds. Covering some 1 500 hectares, the Ramsar Site covers mudflats, mangroves, gei wai (tidal shrimp ponds) and fish ponds,  providing diversified habitats for both migratory and resident birds. About 380 species of birds have been recorded in the area.  During winter the wetland is home to 60 000 – 80 000 waterbirds.

Hong KongWetland Park

The Hong Kong Wetland Park, which opened in May 2006, is a special area which aims to promote wetland conservation, education and tourism. It comprises a 10 000-square metre visitor centre with exhibition galleries showcasing the functions and values of wetlands.

Geopark

The Hong Kong National Geopark includes two regions covering eight geo-areas in the eastern part of Hong Kong, each with unique geological features. One is the Sai Kung Volcanic Rock Region with hexagonal volcanic rock columns, considered world class both in terms of size and coverage. The other is the Northeast New Territories Sedimentary Rock Region which represents the most comprehensive stratigraphy of sedimentary rocks in Hong Kong.

Traditional Festivals

There are five major festivals in the Chinese calendar. During Lunar New Year, the most important festival, people exchange gifts and visits friends and relatives, while children receive ‘lucky money’ in red paper packets. During the Ching Ming Festival in spring, people visit ancestral graves. On the fifth day of the fifth lunar month in early summer, dragon boats race across Hong Kong’s waterways and the sea during the Dragon Boat Festival. The Mid-Autumn Festival falls on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, when gifts of mooncakes, wine and fruit are exchanged, and adults and children carrying colourful lanterns visit parks, beaches and the countryside to see the moon. Chung Yeung Festival occurs on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month, when many people visit their ancestors’ graves or hike up mountains to commemorate a legendary Chinese family’s escape from the plague.

(Editor: Fei Lu)