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Many of us have loved visiting the United States since childhood, whether it’s the theme parks or the larger-than-life experiences.
But now my kids love places like Dubai and Singapore. Because the theme parks there are very well maintained. Also, Asia and the United Arab Emirates are easy to travel to. To begin with, I don’t think children are interested in a 16-hour plane ride. And we’d rather pay for luxuries closer to home than go to America and pay to do everything ourselves.
The world is changing. The future of tourism lies in Asia and the UAE. It is safe, luxurious, and has excellent cost performance. And perhaps education and other areas will be a big draw for Asia and the Middle East.
Rishi Thechchandani, midfielder
Hong Kong needs change to attract tourists
See the letter “Two Ways to Make Hong Kong a ‘City of Hospitality'” (April 20). As a long-term resident, I would like to add my own thoughts.
Hong Kongers have endured years of hardship due to protests that turned violent and the subsequent three years of coronavirus infections. Indeed, it will take time to revive Hong Kong’s can-do spirit.
As our correspondent says, infrastructure needs to be improved to attract overseas tourists and promote Hong Kong as a “city of hospitality”. Particular attention should be paid to road maintenance and street beautification.
Then there’s the attitude of people in the service industry, from store salespeople to taxi drivers. In order to attract tourists back, it is necessary to launch a serious attraction offensive.
A visiting friend recently traveled to mainland China and had visa issues. On the mainland side they were received with assistance and consideration, but on the Hong Kong side they were met with rudeness. What message does this convey when these visitors talk about their experiences back home?
Taxi drivers play a big role in tourists’ first introduction to the city. While many drivers are very nice, some are downright rude and miserable, and often have poor driving skills.
Finally, the declining use of English does not help us. International cities are sure to have people who speak English proficiently. Very many brochures are written in Chinese, with very few translations into English.
To boost our economy and improve everything about this beautiful city, we must do better.
Margaret Lee, mid-career
