Participation Hits New High in 2006 Hong Kong Shopping Festival

The 10-week-long 2006 Hong Kong Shopping Festival organised by the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) has come to a successful conclusion. Thanks to the tremendous support from tourism-related sectors, and enthusiastic participation by visitors and local residents, the Mega Event attracted the largest-ever number of lucky draw entries.

Provisional figures show that close to 7.3 million lucky draw entries were registered, 21.7% more than in 2005. Altogether they represented HK$2.34 billion of spending on shopping and dining, an increase of nearly 27% over last year.

During the Festival period, the HKTB staged the Aqua Fantasia multimedia water show in front of the clock tower in Tsim Sha Tsui to encourage evening shopping and entertainment. Surveys by the HKTB showed more than 360,000 spectators enjoyed the spectacle, over 60% of which were visitors. Meanwhile, the HKTB’s mini-web site on the Festival, which was created to introduce hot deals and special offers by local merchants, enjoyed a hit rate of more than 2.5 million during the Festival period.

For the fifth year running, the Festival attracted industry-wide participation, with a record of more than 8,000 retail and dining outlets joining the Mega Event. Mr Michio Kunioka, Division Manager, Sales Promotion Division of SOGO Hong Kong Co Ltd, said that the Mega Event created a citywide shopping atmosphere during the summer season, which offers numerous special discounts and promotions.

This year, the HKTB highlighted the city’s all-round, multi-faceted shopping experience. As well as featuring participating malls and department stores, the HKTB promoted such shopping locations as open-air markets and themed shopping streets. Mr Raymond Chan, Chairman of Yau Ma Tei Temple Street Association of Hawkers and Shop Operators, was extremely pleased that the HKTB’s promotions also covered open-air markets. “The promotions helped publicise the Temple Street overseas and enabled more visitors to learn about the unique appeal of local open-air markets” he said.

As with past year, the HKTB organised a computerised lucky draw to round off the event. Altogether 113 prizes worth more than HK$2.7 million were drawn. Results of the draw will be posted on the HKTB’s DiscoverHongKong.com web site from 12 September, and published in Sing Tao Daily and The Standard on 14 September.

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