Nine hotspots 'cater to new normal in tourism'
Nine hotspots 'cater to new normal in tourism'
Warner Cheuk said the projects, like opening up the old Yau Ma Tei Police Station, should fit the appetite of mainland visitors' new travel patterns. File photo: RTHK
The government said the nine projects to develop tourism hotspots that it unveiled on Tuesday should be able to accommodate the preferences of visitors under "a new normal" for travel patterns.
The cost of the projects – which include setting up a Victoria Park bazaar and in-depth tours of Kowloon City and opening up the old Yau Ma Tei police station – will be between HK$20 million and HK$30 million. The figure does not include revitalisation costs for a freight yard in Hung Hom.
Deputy Chief Secretary Warner Cheuk, who heads a working group on the matter, said there have been more mainland travellers who are spending less and coming to Hong Kong on day trips.
But he said on an RTHK programme that either they're now travelling in a more economical manner or there aren't enough tourism products that fit their appetite.
Cheuk said the new hotspots should then fit right in.
"Among projects that we've chosen, we try to cater for the preferences and travel patterns of visitors under the new normal," he said.
"We know they value our local culture, whether they can get a taste of Hong Kong.
"So we have all kinds of projects this time."
Cheuk said a new trumpet tree garden near Tamar Park will allow visitors to get a different taste of Victoria Harbour, while "Four Peaks Tourism" goes with the rising popularity of local eco-tourism among hikers.
He said the routes can link up with food and consumption places and that he's not too concerned about the routes getting too crowded or polluted, saying these can be resolved by educational and promotional campaigns on social media platforms such as RedNote.
"For eco-tours right now, there are indeed people who litter, but the problem isn't that bad," Cheuk said.
Speaking on Commercial Radio, the assistant director for country parks in the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Jackie Yip, said a prerequisite for eco-tourism developments is environmental protection.
She said the "four peaks" – The Peak, Lantau Peak, Sai Kung Hoi and Tai Mo Shan – all have relatively developed transport network and greater capacity.
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