Canadians Ready to Travel: Hong Kong Readies for Tourism Boom
A recent 2023 Blue Cross Travel Study found that 90% of Ontario residents said they want to take a vacation this year. However, the survey also indicated that nine in ten Ontarians also experience some form of stress while travelling.
Here are some key findings:
71% of Ontarians said they experience stress while travelling for leisure and 83% said they experience stress while travelling for business.
Asked what causes stress while travelling, 42% said high costs, while 33% cited cancelled or changed flights and 32% said lost or stolen bags. Safety and security was mentioned by 30%.
More than one half (56%) of Ontarians said they have experienced a travel-related incident, including:
An airline cancelling or changing their flight (22%)
Lost baggage (17%)
Damaged baggage (15%)
Ontario residents also cited fears of catching COVID-19 or an illness (38%) while on vacation.
The Hong Kong skyline from Victoria Peak. JIM BYERS PHOTO
HONG KONG TOURISM SEEKS BOOST
The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) held the Hong Kong Tourism Overview 2023 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre on March 30. The Tourism Overview discussed tourism trends and shared details of the HKTB’s latest strategic plans with more than 1,600 participants in person and online, including trade representatives from Hong Kong, China and overseas travel agencies, attractions, hotels, airlines, retailers, restaurants, meeting and exhibition operators, cruise lines, and other travel sectors.
With the theme “Striding Forward in a Steady Recovery,” Dr. Pang Yiu-kai, Chairman of the Hong Kong Tourism Board, said, “Hong Kong has returned to normal and is welcoming back global visitors. The tourism industry will recover progressively.
“The Tourism Overview today is the exact platform that gathers members of the travel trade together to explore the way to revive the city’s tourism industry. Hong Kong is not only a destination with universal appeal and an astonishing array of attractions but also a gateway between the Mainland and the rest of the world.
“We can work with neighbouring cities to build a Greater Bay Area tourism brand for the region and the international market. With the continued collaboration of all sectors, we can bring Hong Kong’s tourism to the next level of excellence,” he said.
I’ve been to Hong Kong several times and always find it rewarding, and fascinating. The food is terrific, the hotels lovely, and the nature and hiking opportunities are abundant.
