Hong Kong will launch 9 tourist hot spot projects one after another starting from the second quarter, expected to bring considerable economic benefits.

The Hong Kong Tourism Hotspot Development Working Group has announced the first phase of 9 tourism hotspot implementation projects, which will be rolled out starting from the second quarter of this year. The Deputy Secretary of Home Affairs and Group Leader, Jack Chan, stated that some attractions have limited capacity and will require reservations and group arrangements, or discussions with the industry for relevant arrangements, but believes that overall it will bring considerable economic benefits. He mentioned that there will not be strict targets set for the number of tourists attracted to the projects. The Commissioner for Tourism, Culture and Sports, Yip Suk Pui, expressed the hope to provide tourists with more choices of attractions to enhance and enrich their experiences. She mentioned that earlier, a large number of tourists visited the east dam of the Man Yee Reservoir. During the Labor Day holiday, transportation to the east dam has improved, and they will continue to research arrangements for tour buses or electric vehicles to transport tourists. Chan mentioned that tourism is an important part of Hong Kong's economy, driving industries such as food and beverage, retail, and hotels. Hong Kong needs to constantly innovate and attract both new and existing customers. He pointed out that the new trend in tourism and tourists' preferences increasingly focus on whether hotspots have Hong Kong characteristics and flavors. Hong Kong has many hidden gems, and the government believes that in addition to creating new attractions, it should also integrate and connect existing tourism resources to create hotspots that tourists are eager to visit and would feel a sense of loss if they didn't. He emphasized the selection of 9 attractive, feasible, and short-term implementable hotspots, covering unique tours, ecological tours, cultural tours, deep tours, photo spot tours, and authentic food tours. The common factors are that they have Hong Kong characteristics, new ideas and experiences, and high photo-taking appeal. As an example, the working group selected two communities in Central and Kowloon City to be beautified and transformed through artistic elements, and connected with nearby unique attractions, shops, restaurants, and bars, hoping to combine smart tourism to allow visitors to explore deeply and take photos while boosting retail and food consumption in the surrounding area. The old Yau Ma Tei Police Station will also be opened to allow visitors to experience the layout and atmosphere of the "old police station" and iconic Hong Kong film scenes, making the tourist experience more exciting. Chan mentioned that the government will work with the tourism industry to create manufacturing industry tours for visitors to visit and consume, and will develop the former Hung Hom Railway Freight Terminal as an activity space for visitors to enjoy a 270-degree view of the iconic Victoria Harbour; the government will also create a Lagerstroemia garden in Tin Ma Park create a viewing area and coordinate with the Central waterfront area. Regarding the "Four Mountain Tourism" project, Chan mentioned that due to the increased popularity of hiking from a recent movie, the working group suggested the more accessible Four Mountains - namely Victoria Peak, Phoenix Hill, Tai Mo Shan, and Sai Kung Sea. These locations boast unique natural landscapes, easy walking difficulty, short distance, and convenient public transportation, and can accommodate more tourists.