New HKTB Director for China appointed

The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) has appointed Becky Ip as its Director, China and Chief Representative, Beijing, with effect from today. Ms Ip has been Acting Director since October 2003.

Based in Beijing, she will be responsible for directing and overseeing the work of all the HKTB’s offices in China. A primary task will be developing initiatives that can further capitalise on the Mainland China market and increase its contribution to the Hong Kong economy.

In 2003, Hong Kong welcomed 8.47 million Mainland arrivals and this year, the number is forecast to reach 11.2 million. With the Individual Visit Scheme now extended to 32 cities and the advent of the Pan-Pearl River Delta (9+2) concept, the potential for further growth in outbound travel is enormous.

HKTB Executive Director Clara Chong said it was essential that the Board had effective marketing and implementation strategies in place to maximise the return from Hong Kong’s largest source market. “In her five years with us, Becky has done an excellent job in developing new Mainland markets and market segments, as well as establishing strong and co-operative relationships with the travel trade,” she said. “I am confident that she can lead the team in China to further new heights.”

Ms Ip has more than 17 years’ experience in the China travel trade, working with two international hotel groups and a theme park before joining the HKTB in August 1999. In her initial HKTB role as Manager, Shanghai Office, she was responsible for trade and consumer marketing in Shanghai as well as the neighbouring provinces of Jiangsu and Zhejiang. She was promoted in January 2003 to the position of Senior Manager, National Trade, and Chief Representative, Shanghai.