The Taipei office of the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) officially opens to further develop the Taiwanese visitor source market. Performing the opening ceremony today were HKTB Chairman Mr James Tien, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Mr Gregory So, Commissioner for Tourism Mr Philip Yung, Secretary-General of the Secretariat to the Hong Kong-Taiwan Economic and Cultural Co-operation and Promotion Council Miss Charmaine Lee and HKTB Executive Director Mr Anthony Lau. Travel trade representatives from both Hong Kong and Taiwan were also present at the ceremony.

HKTB Chairman Mr James Tien said: “Taiwan is the second largest visitor source market for Hong Kong. In the first half of this year, we already received more than one million visitor arrivals from the market. While cross-strait direct flights have impacted same-day arrivals, overnight arrivals have been on the upward trend in the past few years, as led by the HKTB’s active effort to attract vacationers from the island. In fact, overnight arrivals from Taiwan reached 380,000 in the first six months, which is 10% more than last year’s figure. Their per capita spending also rose by 15% year-on-year to HK$5,800, much higher than the spending by the same-day visitors. Owing to this, the economic benefits brought by the Taiwanese market have been maintained.”

Mr Tien continued: “With the establishment of the Taipei office, we can strengthen our co-operation with the Taiwanese travel trade and media and increase the penetration of our promotions in the market. Starting from September, Taiwanese visitors holding a valid Mainland Travel Permit for Taiwan Residents may visit Hong Kong for 30 days, extended from seven days, regardless of whether they possess an entry/exit endorsement for the Mainland. In addition, the Hong Kong SAR Government is working on the detailed implementation arrangements to allow Taiwanese visitors to make prior entry registration on their own through the Internet free of charge. Capitalising on this new policy, the HKTB will work closely with the travel trade to encourage overnight stays in Hong Kong, so as to ensure that the city remains a top choice among Taiwanese visitors.”

Using the “Hong Kong, Asia’s World City” marketing platform this year, the HKTB has been publicising the mega events and activities of Hong Kong in Taiwan. Leveraging on the opening of the Taipei office, the HKTB has embarked on a series of promotions on the upcoming “Hong Kong Wine and Dine Month” in the market. The HKTB has invited the chefs of two Michelin-starred restaurants in Hong Kong, namely Bo Innovation and Tim Ho Wan, the Dim-Sum Specialists, as well as a professional sommelier, to demonstrate food-and-wine pairing, giving the attending travel trade and media representatives a taste of Hong Kong’s wine-and-dine excellence.

The HKTB appointed a representative office in Taipei in 1992 to provide assistance to the local travel trade. As the Taipei office is now set up, the HKTB will strengthen its co-operative relationships with different partners in the market to launch promotions targeting the consumers, travel trade and media, widely publicising the tourism appeal of Hong Kong so as to draw even more Taiwanese visitors to the city.

City.Mobi

Also in Asia today, City.Mobi is celebrating the success of its new guide to Hong Kong.

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