Transcript of remarks by SCST at media session
**********************************************
Reporter: The Government said yesterday they will count the tourism industry to boost the economy in the second half of the year, so they are catching up what can be done. Given the tourist figure is still below the pandemic level, what needs to be done exactly? Regarding the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal assessment on the new measures, on one stage following the unsatisfactory operations on Saturday, is there any new measures coming in?
Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism: We will continue to promote our tourism through organising more major events during exhibitions, conferences. Also we will have a lot of promotions on our various tourist attractions, including our culture, as well as green tourism. All these will be very attractive to tourists. I am sure that with the concerted efforts of everyone and every sector in Hong Kong, we will be able to attract more tourists to come to Hong Kong.
Regarding the measures for the cruise terminal, as you can see, in the past few days, we have two cruise ships coming in, one on Wednesday and one came in yesterday. So far, the new measures and the additional measures worked quite well. You can see that the tourists getting on the public transport or taxis more easily. We will continue to monitor, we have a relatively big cruise coming in next Saturday and it will be able test our measures.
Reporter: You also mention about like the tourist behaviours are different after the pandemic, is there any specific measures handling that area?
Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism: As I said, the tourists nowadays seem to be more diverse in terms of what they want to do in Hong Kong. The young tourists are more attractive to different aspects in our city. They actually go to small districts and may enjoy the environment or atmosphere there. So, what we have to do is, I think we have all of us in to do the best of our own. We will serve the tourists, even the small shops, those not the traditional tourist spots, we have the chance of receiving tourists. We have to do our best. We have also been doing some special works in different districts, say we are having an art installation going to be opened in Tsuen Wan very soon. So, these are some additional works that we are doing to attract tourists going to different districts and different areas.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Saturday, August 12, 2023
Issued at HKT 13:03
Issued at HKT 13:03
NNNN