(To watch the full press conference with sign language interpretation, click here.)

Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Edward Yau today said that to help the tourism industry, the Government is taking the opportunity to upgrade the trade as a whole during the lull.

The 2022-23 Budget earmarked $1.26 billion to support and develop the tourism industry through implementing measures including the Cultural & Heritage Sites Local Tour Incentive Scheme as well as sponsoring the training of practitioners and supporting the Tourism Board's work to revive the sector.

Mr Yau elaborated on the initiatives outlined in the Budget at a press conference this morning, noting that in helping the tourism industry, which is hard-hit at the moment and will be for quite a bit of time, the first and foremost strategy is to keep it alive.

He pointed out that enhancing Hong Kong’s attractiveness is important for the industry.

“That is why a big trunk of money, amounting to no less than $3.8 billion, has been dished out. But we should do more than that. That is why the second tranche of support, including enhancing Hong Kong’s attractiveness as a tourism destination is so important. This includes the continued effort to highlight attractions.

“This will involve an injection of money for the Tourism Board to do the general promotion. It will also involve money that goes to upgrade practitioners’ quality and service standards - equipping themselves to be very good practitioners or tourist guides in relation to attracting tourists.

“I think Hong Kong remains a very attractive place for tourism. But of course, for the entire world, I think COVID-19 has put up a major barrier, so we are taking this opportunity of this lull period to upgrade the trade as a whole, to maintain Hong Kong’s image, and also to equip every frontline practitioner to prepare for the return of tourism,” Mr Yau said.