Tourism Development Blueprint 2.0 Four Major Strategies Characteristic Projects to Expand Customer Sources Smart Tourism

The Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau announced the "Hong Kong Tourism Development Blueprint 2.0," outlining the core concepts, development strategies, and pathways for the long-term development of Hong Kong's tourism industry, aiming to consolidate Hong Kong as a world-class preferred tourist destination and implement "tourism everywhere." The blueprint proposes four major development strategies with a total of 133 specific measures.

The first strategy is to develop tourism products and projects with local and international characteristics, involving 46 measures. Among them, the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau will continue to promote projects under the expansion plan with Disney, including a new park themed around "Marvel," and explore future development plans. The bureau will also actively promote panda tourism and monitor Ocean Park's implementation of the development strategy announced in 2021, including the construction and completion of a new adventure-themed area located in the hillside park. The Tourism Board will formulate a food guide for 18 districts, hold food festivals, and encourage the industry to develop tourism products related to iconic architecture and "Made in Hong Kong" industrial elements.

The second strategy is to diversify the source markets, focusing on attracting high-value overnight visitors to Hong Kong, involving 37 measures. The bureau will enhance services and support to attract more cruise visits, seize new opportunities brought by new policies related to cruises in mainland China, and develop more new cruise routes; establish deeper strategic partnerships with mainland ports and continue to cooperate with ports in the Asia-Pacific region, closely connecting with the industry and cruise companies to provide timely and appropriate support. The bureau will also carefully review and optimize future operational requirements for operators when re-tendering for terminal operators next year; the authorities will utilize the cruise terminal as an important venue for conferences, exhibitions, cultural creativity, and community leisure, leveraging synergies with the Kai Tak Sports Park.

The third strategy is to promote smart tourism, including optimizing the Discover Hong Kong one-stop tourism information platform; the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau will study new arrangements to facilitate tourists who have arrived in Hong Kong to conveniently purchase same-day tickets for cultural performances, etc.

The final strategy is to comprehensively enhance the quality of tourism services and supporting facilities, and cultivate talent. The Labour Department will review the "Supplementary Labour Optimisation Plan," including the scope and regulations for the industry to apply for importing labor; the authorities will also promote further exchanges and cooperation between Guangdong and Hong Kong regarding professional qualifications and training in the tourism industry.

The Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau expects that in five years, by 2029, the value added by the tourism industry will reach HKD 120 billion, an increase of about 60% compared to HKD 75.3 billion in 2023; the number of jobs will increase to 210,000, a growth of about 40% compared to over 145,000 in 2023