HONG KONG has made special efforts to promote MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions), cruise tourism, mega events and green tourism.

MICE

Hong Kong is a premier MICE destination, offering world-class convention and exhibition facilities and a wide range of tourist attractions. It has a dedicated office, the Meetings and Exhibitions Hong Kong, under the Tourism Board to promote MICE tourism. The city hosts some of the world’s largest trade fairs, such as the Hong Kong Electronics Fair, Hong Kong Jewelry and Gem Fair, Hong Kong Gifts and Premium Fair, and Hong Kong Watch and Clock Fair. In 2015, the city received 1.72 million overnight MICE visitors, a decline of 5.2 percent over 2014.

Cruise tourism

The Kai Tak Cruise Terminal, built on the site of the former Kai Tak airport runway and commissioned in June 2013, is capable of accommodating two cruise ships with a gross tonnage of up to 220,000 tons each. In 2015, the terminal handled 56 ship calls involving a total of 75 days. Total passenger throughput exceeded 260,000. The number of ship calls is expected to continue to increase in the coming years.

Mega events

Hong Kong recognizes that large-scale events enrich visitors’ travel experience and add color and vibrancy to the city. The government’s Mega Events Fund has supported 27 events since being established in 2009 to encourage the staging of such events. In April 2012, the Legislative Council’s Finance Committee approved HK$150 million (US$19.3 million) to extend the fund’s operation for a further five years to attract more mega events.

Green tourism

The board’s Great Outdoors Hong Kong campaign promotes the Hong Kong Global Geopark of China, the natural scenery of outlying islands, hiking trails and other green attractions. These attractions continued to be showcased in 2015 via various channels, including the board’s official website, guidebooks, mobile applications, social media platforms, visitor centers and a hotline. (SD-Agencies)

(This section is dedicated to the coming 20th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return and the 20th anniversary of Shenzhen Daily, which fall on the same day — July 1.)