Arab Press

بالشعب و للشعب
Friday, Aug 22, 2025

Hong Kong tourism must become more welcoming and sustainable to survive

Hong Kong tourism must become more welcoming and sustainable to survive

What has worked for Hong Kong in the past probably won’t succeed in a world that is supposed to be focused on climate change and sustainability. Rethinking how to promote the city and making visitors feel more welcome are essential to restoring Hong Kong’s battered reputation.

A damaged reputation takes years to rebuild. In the wrong hands, perhaps it can never be repaired. Hong Kong’s has taken a battering, being buffeted and torn by the winds of anti-Chinese sentiment in the West and tough anti-pandemic regulations that have made it unattractive to businesspeople and tourists alike.

Who knows when normal times will return but, when they do, authorities have some serious work to do.

I’m no public relations expert, but I know that what worked before has a slim chance in the future. Global inflation and Hong Kong’s connections to the US dollar make it unattractive as a shopping paradise. Theme parks are a stale concept.

All those tall buildings and concrete aren’t what anyone wants to see in a world that is supposed to be focused on climate change. We should be constructing, conserving and living smarter to keep rising temperatures in check. Don’t tell the world how backward we are with recycling, waste disposal, electric buses and trucks – it will laugh in our faces.

A scan of the Hong Kong Tourism Board’s website gives an idea of the scale of what we’re up against. While I appreciate Covid-19 restrictions have made life difficult for tourism promoters – only in recent weeks has the industry been allowed to resume local tours – pushing hackneyed or run-down attractions simply isn’t enticing.

There are links to Central Market, Disneyland, the Star Ferry, The Peak, the Avenue of the Stars, the Symphony of Lights and “revitalised historic buildings”.

A recommended 60-hour tour seems less about enjoyment than making a quick buck and inducing fatigue. Day 1 is Lantau Big Buddha, Mong Kok flower market, Sham Shui Po Park, a series of street markets down to Temple Street in Jordan, then over to SoHo and Lan Kwai Fong on Hong Kong Island for the nightlife. Day 2 is Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront, Star Ferry, Ocean Park and Stanley. Day 3 is The Peak and, I assume given the lack of further suggestions, shopping.

Encouraging tourists to spend is why we want them, but the attractions we are selling them haven’t changed for decades. Fortunately, more than two years of overseas travel restrictions have revealed a side of Hong Kong that we all knew was there but many of us never properly explored.

It’s the part of the city that comprises country parks, walking and hiking trails and steep steps up urban hillsides that have stunning views at the top.

There’s a link to hiking on the Tourism Board’s homepage, but it’s just one among dozens. It should instead be highlighting that and other green aspects of Hong Kong. So much greenery, beauty and tranquillity are a welcome respite from the concrete, traffic noise and diesel fumes.

But taking to nature for hours of hiking or simply to sit and enjoy also fits neatly in a world that demands we be more responsible about our surroundings. Reducing our global footprint is how we slow or stall the progress of climate change, and going on foot is a good way to achieve that goal.

But bringing back tourism in a sustainable way requires more than rethinking how better to promote Hong Kong. My son recently returned from Paris, and he and others I have spoken to confirmed they were made to feel less than welcome on arrival.

Granted, anti-pandemic measures are in effect and PCR testing is still required for all incoming passengers before they are sent to quarantine. I would not expect marching bands, balloons and immigration officers wearing party hats.

By all accounts, though, there is no happiness as people are herded off planes to a far end of the terminal building for testing or any effort to relieve their anxiety as they wait hours for results. With non-residents now able to travel to Hong Kong again, that unwelcoming vibe is the first priority to fix.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Arab Press
0:00
0:00
Close
Dogfights in the Skies: Airbus on Track to Overtake Boeing and Claim Aviation Supremacy
Tim Cook Promises an AI Revolution at Apple: "One of the Most Significant Technologies of Our Generation"
Are AI Data Centres the Infrastructure of the Future or the Next Crisis?
Miles Worth Billions: How Airlines Generate Huge Profits
Zelenskyy Returns to White House Flanked by European Allies as Trump Pressures Land-Swap Deal with Putin
Beijing is moving into gold and other assets, diversifying away from the dollar
Trump Backs Putin’s Land-for-Peace Proposal Amid Kyiv’s Rejection
Zelenskyy to Visit Washington after Trump–Putin Summit Yields No Agreement
Iranian Protection Offers Chinese Vehicle Shipments a Cost Advantage over Japanese and Korean Makers
United States Sells Luxury Yacht Amadea, Valued at Approximately $325 Million, in First Sale of a Seized Russian Yacht Since the Invasion of Ukraine
Saudi Arabia accelerates renewables to curb domestic oil use
Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodríguez announce engagement
Asia-Pacific dominates world’s busiest flight routes, with South Korea’s Jeju–Seoul corridor leading global rankings
Private Welsh island with 19th-century fort listed for sale at over £3 million
Sam Altman challenges Elon Musk with plans for Neuralink rival
Australia to Recognize the State of Palestine at UN Assembly
The Collapse of the Programmer Dream: AI Experts Now the Real High-Earners
Armenia and Azerbaijan to Sign US-Brokered Framework Agreement for Nakhchivan Corridor
British Labour Government Utilizes Counter-Terrorism Tools for Social Media Monitoring Against Legitimate Critics
WhatsApp Deletes 6.8 Million Scam Accounts Amid Rising Global Fraud
Texas Residents Face Water Restrictions While AI Data Centers Consume Millions of Gallons
India Rejects U.S. Tariff Threat, Defends Russian Oil Purchases
United States Establishes Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and Digital Asset Stockpile
Thousands of Private ChatGPT Conversations Accidentally Indexed by Google
China Tightens Mineral Controls, Curtailing Critical Inputs for Western Defence Contractors
JPMorgan and Coinbase Unveil Partnership to Let Chase Cardholders Buy Crypto Directly
British Tourist Dies Following Hair Transplant in Turkey, Police Investigate
WhatsApp Users Targeted in New Scam Involving Account Takeovers
Trump Deploys Nuclear Submarines After Threats from Former Russian President Medvedev
Germany’s Economic Breakdown and the Return of Militarization: From Industrial Collapse to a New Offensive Strategy
Germany Enters Fiscal Crisis as Cabinet Approves €174 Billion in New Debt
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
President Trump Diagnosed with Chronic Venous Insufficiency After Leg Swelling
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
Iranian President Reportedly Injured During Israeli Strike on Secret Facility
Kurdistan Workers Party Takes Symbolic Step Towards Peace in Northern Iraq
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Russia Formally Recognizes Taliban Government in Afghanistan
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Mediators Edge Closer to Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Agreement
Germany Seeks Taliban Deal to Deport Afghan Migrants
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
×