HONG KONG “LIGHTS UP” IN KUNMING

Details of the first of five major events of the City of Life: Hong Kong is it! campaign were brought to “light” at a two-day exhibition in Kunming, Yunnan Province, Mainland China.

The exhibition was held yesterday and today (8 November) at the Jinlong Department Store in Kunming to encourage more Mainland travellers to visit Hong Kong during Christmas and the Chinese New Year, when the first major event, Hong Kong Lights Up, is scheduled to take place.

The event was launched at a “switching on” ceremony officiated by the Hong Kong SAR Government Secretary for Economic Services, Ms Sandra Lee, JP; the Commissioner for Tourism, Mrs Rebecca Lai, JP; Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) Executive Director, Ms Clara Chong and the Deputy General Manager of the Kunming China International Travel Service (CITS), Mr Liu Xiangyu.

“Christmas and Chinese New Year holidays are the most suitable times to visit Hong Kong,” Ms Chong said. “The specially-designed Hong Kong Lights Up tour offered by the HKTB and the Kunming CITS will allow participants to see for themselves the City of Life at the height of its attractiveness. Packaging dazzling lighting decorations and set at a competitive price, the tour has already received many bookings from Mainland travellers.”

Meanwhile, a world-class travel trade show — China International Travel Mart (CITM) — is under way in Kunming and will continue until 11 November, giving trade representatives from around the world opportunities to discuss business with their Mainland Chinese counterparts and prospective clients.

The HKTB has set up a Hong Kong stand promoting the City of Life: Hong Kong is it! campaign and its major events. Joining forces with the HKTB at the CITM are 15 local trade members, including hotel groups, travel agents and tourism-related service providers.

“By promoting Hong Kong Lights Up during the CITM and the exhibition at the Jinlong Department Store, we intend to introduce Hong Kong to more Mainland travellers and invite them to experience the wonders and diversity of the City of Life,” Ms Chong said.

Ms Chong noted that Hong Kong has long been an appealing destination for Mainland visitors. The city’s travel trade will benefit from the abolition of the quota system for tour groups and the number of agencies handling Hong Kong tours increasing to 67 in 2002.

Mainland China is Hong Kong’s biggest source market for visitors, with great potential for further development. In 2000, the number of Mainland visitors reached 3.78 million, representing 29% of Hong Kong’s total visitor arrivals. For the first nine months of 2001, accumulative arrivals from the Mainland surged 13.4% to more than 3.18 million.

Organised by the HKTB, the City of Life: Hong Kong is it! campaign continues to March 2003, promoting a wide range of attractions, festivals and events. Glittering lights and related activities will spread beyond harbourfront to various districts during Hong Kong Lights Up, creating the most spectacular lighting displays ever seen in Hong Kong.

Upcoming major events include the Cathay Pacific International Chinese New Year Parade on 12 February 2002 (the first day of the Year of the Horse); Hong Kong Flower Extravaganza (Spring 2002); Mega Hong Kong Sale (2002 summer season); and the fun-filled City of Life Street Carnival in early 2003.