HKTB booth at Arabian Travel Market in Dubai.
Paul Chan Previous Next
Ira Wang
Finance Secretary Paul Chan Mopo said Hong Kong would focus on attracting tourists from Persian Gulf countries, with travelers spending an average of more than HK$11,000 on their visit, which is higher than the overall average. Said it was 85% higher.
Chan wrote in a blog yesterday that the tourism board will launch several campaigns targeting Gulf countries this month.
Mr Chan said the board traveled to Dubai last week to lead the largest tourism industry delegation in history to attend the Arabian Travel Market, the largest annual international travel trade show in the Middle East.
“Tourists from the Persian Gulf also recorded higher than average overnight stays and are a high-spending group of tourists,” he added.
Chan also said Cathay Pacific would resume direct flights from Hong Kong to Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh in the fourth quarter to “facilitate more convenient economic, trade and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.”
The government is also considering establishing an economic and trade department in Riyadh to promote investment, Chan added.
He also said that government ministries, chambers of commerce and businesses in the special region have signed more than 60 projects with Arabian Gulf countries since February last year, ranging from enhanced cooperation, mediation and arbitration to artificial intelligence development. .
The government is also negotiating agreements on investment and protection.
On a separate issue, Chan said the International Talent Forum held last week under the Global Talent Summit and the 2nd Greater Bay Area Quality Talent Development Conference attracted more than 4,900 participants, and 130,000 people participated online. It was viewed more than once.
The Career Connect Expo, held as part of the summit, attracted 8,600 visitors and showcased the city’s appeal.
Meanwhile, the Chinese government’s announcement to expand the private visit system to eight more mainland cities will attract more visitors to spend the night in the city, Zhang said.
The central government announced on Saturday Taiyuan city, the capital of Shanxi province, Hohhot city in northern Inner Mongolia autonomous region, Harbin in Heilongjiang province, Lhasa city in Tibet, Lanzhou city in Gansu province, Xining city in Qinghai province, and Ningxia Hui autonomous region. Residents of eight mainland cities in Yinchuan, and Urumqi in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region will be allowed to visit the special region without a guided tour from May 27.
The plan covers 59 cities, including all state capitals.
ayra.wang@singtaonewscorp.com
