Hong Kong tourism wanes after the handover

By K. Basrie

The Hong Kong Tourist Association, in cooperation with Cathay Pacific Airways and The Peninsula Hotel, recently invited a group of Indonesian journalists to sample the New Hong Kong Experience, a campaign designed to boost the territory's tourism. It may be just in time -- tourist arrivals have dipped since Hong Kong's handover from British to Chinese rule on July 1. The Jakarta Post's K. Basrie wrote the articles on this page and one on Page 7.

HONG KONG (JP): Since the British flag came down for the last time in Hong Kong on June 30, fewer foreigners have visited the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, as the territory is officially referred to now.

The Hong Kong Tourist Association (HKTA) estimates that the number of foreign visitors this year will decline by 4 percent from the 11.7 million tourists who came in 1996.

"It's a big punch to us," HKTA public relations manager Stephen Wong, says.

This is a far cry from an earlier optimistic forecast that the number of tourist arrivals would increase by 6 percent to about 12.4 million.

Wong says the drop has been particularly felt over the past two months.

The number of Japanese visitors, traditionally Hong Kong's major source of tourism income accounting for more than a fifth of last year's arrivals, has shown a significant decline, he says.

"It's difficult to get them back," Wong says, adding however that he hopes it is only a temporary phenomenon.

He believes that many foreigners are sitting tight until they know where the territory is headed after British rule.

"We need to work harder to convince visitors Hong Kong is functioning well like before (the handover)," Wong says.

A local tour guide says the economic crisis in several Asian countries is another factor accounting for the decline in tourism in Hong Kong.

"Tourist arrivals from Thailand and Indonesia have been almost negligible since the currency crisis hit these countries in July," says Cliff Yip, a senior freelance tour coordinator of Indonesian origin.

Last year, 184,000 Indonesians visited Hong Kong, says Cliff, who has been in the business for 15 years.

Hotel operators also complain about business being slow.

"The business is slowing down at the moment," said Sian Griffiths, public relations director of The Peninsula, a plush five-star hotel.

Tourists' concerns about the new Chinese rulers in Hong Kong are largely groundless, Wong insists.

Investors have already captured the message well and are continuing business as usual, he says.

"It's crystal clear to the world that Hong Kong is functioning smoothly after the handover," Wong says, highlighting the 10 ongoing major projects at Hong Kong's new airport at Chek Lap Kok.

The Hong Kong tourist industry is hopeful of recovery next year when foreigners find answers to their concerns, he says.

This is illustrated by the fact that the entire industry has been working hand in hand to launch a series of promotional campaigns, to furnish and develop new tourist spots, and stage international events to woo visitors.

Colorful brochures detailing alluring attractions, new restaurants, street markets and exclusive shopping centers, tourist spots and maps can still be found easily at hotels, airport and tourist sites.

The tourist association also regularly invites journalists and travel writers from various countries.

"We spend HK$84.5 billion (US$11 million) every year for our campaign," said Wong.

The Peninsula, 69 years old and one of the world's legendary grand hotels, invited this group of journalists to experience its deluxe harbor-view room, which has a price tag of HK$4,600++ per night, and a ride to and from the airport in one of the hotel's 1934 vintage Rolls-Royces.

Cliff, the tour guide, says: "As far as I can remember, this is the first media group tour to stay at The Peninsula."

Hong Kong is also counting on the full support of its new "bosses" in Beijing to lure tourists back to the territory.

With five other mainland Chinese cities, Hong Kong will take part in a joint tourist campaign in the United States, Wong says.

Hong Kong will promote its most popular spots, such as Victoria Peak, Sha Tin horse racing, Big Buddha in Po Lin monastery, Ladies Market, Temple Street Night Market, the romantic green-and-white Star Ferries and the dazzling neons of skyscrapers.

"But it's not only about shopping and restaurants, we also intend to lure tourists to the exotic oriental rural counties of Hong Kong, which has yet to become widely known," Wong says.

HKTA has started offering tour packages for Moslems. "We feel that our Moslem friends, including those from Indonesia, Malaysia and Pakistan, are so important to us," he says.

With the help of some of Hong Kong's 50,000 Moslems, HKTA has designed tourist programs for Moslem couples and families, including a visit to Osman Ramju Sadick Islamic Center, and a meal at the Islamic Food Court at Ammar Mosque.

The programs have been carefully designed "to meet the convenience of Moslems, such as their food and pray times", he says.

The HKTA also targets children and honeymooners.

"HKTA, which has 18 branch offices overseas, expects to have 15 million visitors by the end of this century," Wong explains.

Hong Kong's tourism, however, is not without flaws despite the vigorous promotional efforts by the authority and the industry.

There are still reports of visitors getting cheated, or being shortchanged when shopping. It is Hong Kong's shops which mainly lure tourists from all over the world.

"Cheating foreigners is still a habit for some traders here. It is one of the major problems facing HKTA," says Cliff.

"Even though HKTA has reminded traders time and again, it still happens again and again," he says.

But many learn that Hong Kong is attractive and safe for visitors and investors.

"For us, Hong Kong is still wonderful and even more intriguing than before the handover," said an elderly Canadian tourist cruising in a century-old Star Ferry with her spouse.

And the territory remains a paradise to locals.

Mau Chiu Chiu, Ma Chiu Pau, and Ku Chiu Zau, they say. Meaning that whatever happens, dancing, horse racing and the stock market must go on.