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Japan Times
11 hours ago
- Business
- Japan Times
Can big stars bring higher-spending tourists back to Hong Kong?
The sisters from southwestern China arrived in Hong Kong on a recent holiday, aiming to see as much as they could — in less than 12 hours. Carrying only a small bag each, Hu Di, 30, a bank worker, and Hu Ke, 20, a student, sampled beef noodles in the Central business district, took turns posing for sunset photos at a waterfront promenade, then captured the city's illuminated skyline after dark. Buying only medicinal oils and retro comics as souvenirs, they spent less than $150 in the day and went back across the mainland China border to stay the night. The sisters are part of a wildly popular trend among mainland Chinese who call themselves "special forces tourists': independent travelers who get in and out of the city as quickly and cheaply as possible. Tourists at a taxi stand in Hong Kong on May 5. Tourists from China's mainland are spending less time and money in Hong Kong of late, and the financial hub's recent history of protests and security crackdowns is making it a challenge to draw travelers from other countries. | Anthony Kwan / The New York Times Mainland Chinese make up more than three-quarters of all tourists in the financial hub. But while they were once big spenders in Hong Kong — buying luxury watches, handbags and designer clothes — they now spend less time and money. That is a challenge to the city's efforts to revive a travel economy hurt by years of anti-government protests, pandemic restrictions and concerns in the West over a national security crackdown. Hong Kong, which once billed itself as Asia's World City, is now seeking to brand itself as the region's events capital, emphasizing concerts and trade shows over shopping, to give travelers reasons to return and to spend more. This year, it unveiled a $4 billion sports park at the site of the city's former airport, Kai Tak. Its centerpiece is a purple-hued stadium with air conditioning under each of its 50,000 seats. It was almost at capacity during an annual Rugby Sevens tournament in late March. Featuring teams from around the world, the tournament drew overseas visitors like Salome Bale, 49, a pharmacy worker from New Zealand. The new stadium left her speechless, she said, adding that the state-of-the-art facilities and the thrumming atmosphere made the games the experience of a lifetime. People gather outside Kai Tak Stadium before a concert in Hong Kong on April 27. | Anthony Kwan / The New York Times The next month, kaleidoscopic visual effects were projected on its retractable roof during four sold-out nights of concerts by the band Coldplay. Some events are backed by a Mega Arts and Cultural Events Fund the government started in 2023, pledging up to $1.9 million in subsidies for approved events. The government is also supporting several high-profile soccer games, including a recent exhibition match involving Manchester United. "You miss us, you come back. And then when you come, you like it again, you become one of our old friends,' Rosanna Law, the city's new secretary for culture, sports and tourism, said in an interview. Tourism spending has been inching up since the pandemic, making up 2.6% of Hong Kong's economic output in 2023, the most recent data available. But that is still far from the government's target of 5%, which would be a little higher than prepandemic levels. Industry experts say the challenge for Hong Kong is distinguishing itself from other Asian cities like Singapore and Bangkok, which have for years offered incentives to attract A-list stars, business conferences and sports tournaments. A concert by Cantopop singer Nicholas Tse at Kai Tak Stadium in Hong Kong on April 25 | Anthony Kwan / The New York Times "Their strategy is very similar. That is a big problem for Hong Kong,' said Gary Bowerman, who heads a travel and tourism research firm called Check-in Asia. Singapore has invested heavily to host marquee events such as an annual Formula One race and exclusive deals with undisclosed price tags for huge stars like Taylor Swift and Lady Gaga. While such events help draw tourists who otherwise would not have visited, governments should not become too reliant on them, said Donald Low, a senior lecturer at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology's Institute for Public Policy. "Even for Singapore, you don't get somebody like Taylor Swift every year,' he said. "And even if you do, how many days of the year is it?' Hong Kong has also had to weather blows to its international reputation, with the United States and other Western nations warning its travelers of potential risks after Beijing imposed a national security law in 2020 that broadly criminalized political dissent. The trade war between the United States and China has added to uncertainties. Rosanna Law, the city's new secretary for the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, at government offices in Hong Kong on April 27 | Anthony Kwan / The New York Times There were fewer visitors to Hong Kong from almost every part of the world in 2024 compared with 2018, according to the latest government data. Stuart Bailey, chair of the Hong Kong Exhibition and Convention Industry Association, said that many businesspeople from Europe and the United States whom he had spoken to had negative impressions about the city. "It's a good strategy, trying to put Hong Kong on the map to get people to come here,' he said. "I think it is the right thing because there's a lot of misunderstanding.' Law defended Hong Kong's openness. "As long as you are law-abiding, as long as you are a genuine, proper tourist, you'll be having a good time in Hong Kong,' she said. The city is courting higher-spending visitors from regions like Southeast Asia and the Middle East. Whereas the city's allure was once as a Westernized city on the tip of China, it is now embracing its closer relationship to nearby Chinese cities. Law said Hong Kong would keep working with mainland Chinese authorities to promote travel to the city as part of regional tours that include cities such as Guangzhou and Shenzhen. Hong Kong is now seeking to brand itself as the region's events capital, emphasizing concerts and trade shows over shopping, to give travelers reasons to return and to spend more. | Anthony Kwan / The New York Times Drawing more tourists is increasingly important, as many Hong Kong residents now flock to the mainland on weekends and holidays for cheaper entertainment. (Over China's five-day Golden Week holiday in early March, around 1.1 million tourists arrived in Hong Kong, but more than 1.68 million Hong Kong residents left the city.) Given that exodus, "it's important to know that we are building a relationship with the people that are coming in,' said Michael Denmark, the owner of the company that operates a giant Ferris wheel on the waterfront. About 85% of the wheel's 2.5 million visitors over the past 12 months came from mainland China, he said. Most of those were from the region of about 80 million people that surrounds Hong Kong, known as the Greater Bay Area. Denmark, testing Chinese appetite for spending on more costly attractions, is currently coproducing a monthlong show by Cirque du Soleil. Ticket prices, from about $60 to $250, are significantly higher than the sponsor-subsidized $2.50 fare to ride the Ferris wheel. He was partnering with Chinese social media and travel companies, and has dedicated marketing teams targeting different audiences, including travelers from China. Corporate sponsors "all have very much their eyes wide open and their arms open to embrace everybody from Greater Bay and beyond in China,' he said. This article originally appeared in The New York Times © 2025 The New York Times Company
Straits Times
13 hours ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Hong Kong looks to win back big-spending tourists
The crowd at Kai Tak stadium before British rock band Coldplay's concert in Hong Kong on April 8. PHOTO: ST FILE HONG KONG – The sisters from south-western China arrived in Hong Kong on a recent holiday, aiming to see as much as they could – in less than 12 hours. Carrying only a small bag each, bank worker Hu Di, 30, and student Hu Ke, 20, sampled beef noodles in the Central business district, took turns posing for sunset photos at a waterfront promenade, then captured the city's illuminated skyline after dark. Buying only medicinal oils and retro comics as souvenirs, they spent less than US$150 (S$193) in the day and went back across the border to stay the night. They are part of a wildly popular trend among Chinese who call themselves 'special forces tourists': independent travellers who get in and out of the city as quickly and cheaply as possible. Chinese travellers make up more than three-quarters of all tourists in the financial hub. But while they were once big spenders in Hong Kong – buying luxury watches, handbags and designer clothes – they now spend less time and money. That is a challenge to the city's efforts to revive a travel economy hurt by years of anti-government protests, pandemic restrictions and concerns in the West over its tightening of freedoms through a national security crackdown. Hong Kong, which once billed itself as Asia's World City, is now seeking to brand itself as the region's events capital, emphasising concerts and trade shows over shopping, to give travellers reasons to return and to spend more. In 2025 , it unveiled a US$4 billion sports park at the site of the city's former airport, Kai Tak. Its centrepiece is a purple-hued stadium with air-conditioning under each of its 50,000 seats. It was almost at capacity during an annual Rugby Sevens tournament in March. Featuring teams from around the world, the tournament drew overseas visitors like Ms Salome Bale, 49, a pharmacy worker from New Zealand. The new stadium left her speechless, she said, adding that the state-of-the-art facilities and the thrumming atmosphere made the games the experience of a lifetime. The next month, kaleidoscopic visual effects were projected on its retractable roof during four sold-out nights of concerts by British rock band Coldplay. More events featured local and regional stars. Some events are backed by a Mega Arts and Cultural Events Fund the government started in 2023, pledging up to US$1.9 million in subsidies for approved events. The government is also supporting several high-profile soccer games, including a recent exhibition match involving English team Manchester United. 'You miss us, you come back. And then when you come, you like it again, you become one of our old friends,' said the city's secretary for culture, sports and tourism, Ms Rosanna Law. Tourism spending has been inching up since the pandemic, making up 2.6 per cent of Hong Kong's economic output in 2023 , the most recent data available . But that is still far from the government's target of 5 per cent, which would be a little higher than pre-pandemic levels. Industry experts say the challenge for Hong Kong is distinguishing itself from other Asian cities like Singapore and Bangkok, which have for years offered incentives to attract A-list stars, business conferences and sports tournaments. 'Their strategy is very similar. That is a big problem for Hong Kong,' said Mr Gary Bowerman, who heads a travel and tourism research firm called Check-in Asia. Singapore has invested heavily to host marquee events such as an annual Formula One race and in exclusive deals with undisclosed price tags for huge stars like American artistes Taylor Swift and Lady Gaga. While such events help draw tourists who otherwise would not have visited, governments should not become too reliant on them, said Professor Donald Low , a senior lecturer at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology's Institute for Public Policy. 'Even for Singapore, you don't get somebody like Taylor Swift every year,' he said. 'And even if you do, how many days of the year is it?' Hong Kong has also had to weather blows to its international reputation, with the United States and other Western nations warning its travellers of potential risks after Beijing imposed a national security law in 2020 that broadly criminalised political dissent. The trade war between the US and China has added to uncertainties. There were fewer visitors to Hong Kong from almost every part of the world in 2024 compared with 2018, according to the latest government data. Mr Stuart Bailey, chair of the Hong Kong Exhibition and Convention Industry Association, said many businesspeople from Europe and the US whom he had spoken to had negative impressions about the city. 'It's a good strategy, trying to put Hong Kong on the map to get people to come here,' he said. 'I think it is the right thing because there's a lot of misunderstanding.' Ms Law defended Hong Kong's openness. 'As long as you are law-abiding, as long as you are a genuine, proper tourist, you'll be having a good time in Hong Kong,' she said. The city is courting higher-spending visitors from regions like South-east Asia and the Middle East. Whereas the city's allure was once as a Westernised city on the tip of China, it is now embracing its closer relationship to nearby Chinese cities. Ms Law added that Hong Kong would keep working with Chinese authorities to promote travel to the city as part of regional tours that include cities such as Guangzhou and Shenzhen. Drawing more tourists is increasingly important, as many Hong Kong residents now flock to China on weekends and holidays for cheaper entertainment. (Over China's five-day Golden Week holiday in early May, around 1.1 million tourists arrived in Hong Kong, but more than 1.68 million Hong Kong residents left the city.) Given that exodus, 'it's important to know that we are building a relationship with the people who are coming in', said Mr Michael Denmark, owner of the company that operates a giant Ferris wheel on the waterfront. About 85 per cent of the attraction's 2.5 million visitors over the past 12 months came from China, he added. Denmark, testing Chinese appetite for spending on more costly attractions, is co-producing a month-long show by Cirque du Soleil. Ticket prices, from about US$60 to US$250, are significantly higher than the sponsor-subsidised US$2.50 fare to ride the Ferris wheel. He is partnering Chinese social media and travel companies, and has dedicated marketing teams targeting different audiences, including travellers from China. Corporate sponsors 'all have very much their eyes wide open and their arms open to embrace everybody from Greater Bay and beyond in China', he added. NYTIMES Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
New York Times
3 days ago
- Business
- New York Times
Hong Kong Looks for Ways to Win Back Big-Spending Tourists
The sisters from southwestern China arrived in Hong Kong on a recent holiday, aiming to see as much as they could — in less than 12 hours. Carrying only a small bag each, Hu Di, 30, a bank worker, and Hu Ke, 20, a university student, sampled beef noodles in the Central business district, took turns posing for sunset photos at a waterfront promenade, then captured the city's illuminated skyline after dark. Buying only medicinal oils and retro comics as souvenirs, they spent less than $150 in the day and went back across the mainland China border to stay the night. The sisters are part of a wildly popular trend among mainland Chinese who call themselves 'special forces tourists': independent travelers who get in and out of the city as quickly and cheaply as possible. Mainland Chinese make up more than three-quarters of all tourists in the financial hub. But while they were once big spenders in Hong Kong — buying luxury watches, handbags and designer clothes — they now spend less time and money. That is a challenge to the city's efforts to revive a travel economy hurt by years of antigovernment protests, pandemic restrictions and concerns in the West over its tightening of freedoms through a national security crackdown. Hong Kong, which once billed itself as Asia's World City, is now seeking to brand itself as the region's events capital, emphasizing concerts and trade shows over shopping, to give travelers reasons to return and to spend more. This year, it unveiled a $4 billion sports park at the site of the city's former airport, Kai Tak. Its centerpiece is a purple-hued stadium with air-conditioning under each of its 50,000 seats. It was almost at full capacity during an annual Rugby Sevens tournament in late March. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Reuters
27-03-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Hu Di, Business President, 58.com (Group), Named One of the "2025 Forbes China 20 Women to Watch in Business"
BEIJING, China, March 27, 2025 (EZ Newswire) -- On March 11, Forbes China and Sports Illustrated co-hosted the 2025 Forbes China Women's Summit at Bund One in Shanghai. The summit presented a global perspective on contemporary Chinese women in diverse fields, bringing together outstanding women from various industries to explore how female leadership can shape a better future. During the summit, Forbes China released the "2025 20 Women to Watch in Business", aiming to showcase female entrepreneurs who have demonstrated resilience in adversity. By highlighting their extraordinary courage and wisdom, the list seeks to inspire more women to take center stage, infusing the business world with new vitality and enabling them to become an indispensable force in the tide of the times. Hu Di, Business President of (Group), was recognized as one of the "2025 Forbes China 20 Women to Watch in Business." The honorees came from a range of industries and niche sectors, including semiconductors, healthcare, and software & IT services. Notably, the semiconductor industry accounts for the largest share at 20%, while an impressive 35% of the listed individuals are involved in artificial intelligence. These figures indicate a significant rise in the number of women venturing into deep-tech entrepreneurship. As the youngest Business President of (Group), Hu Di has progressed from a university recruit to a core member of the entrepreneurial team within an internet company. Over the past 12 years, she has remained deeply engaged in the digital media sector, achieving remarkable success in advancing high-quality employment, platform ecosystem development, technological innovation, user value enhancement, and exporting China's life service expertise to international markets. A pioneering entrepreneur of the post-90s generation, Hu Di graduated from Peking University's Guanghua School of Management and was a visiting scholar in innovation at Yale University. She currently serves as Vice President of the Capital Internet Association, a member of the 7th Committee of the Chaoyang District Youth Federation, Beijing, a deputy to the 17th and 18th People's Congress of Tianjin, Vice President of the Beijing Youth New Media Association, a member of the Tianjin Business Environment Expert Committee, an executive director of the China Youth New Media Association, and a judge for the Greater China Effie Awards and Golden Investment Awards. Since joining in July 2012, she is currently the Business President of Group and earned numerous accolades, including 2023 Beijing Employment and Entrepreneurship Outstanding Individual, 2024 Beijing Role Model – Most Outstanding Internet Professional, and 2024 Hurun U35 China Entrepreneurship Pioneer. Content has sourced from Forbes China. is a leading lifestyle services platform in China that operates across a broad range of sectors including recruitment, real estate, automotive, and local lifestyle services. For more information, please visit Media Contact ### SOURCE: Information Technology Co., Ltd.
