Chief Executive CY Leung says while tourism is an important contributor to Hong Kong’s economy, the Government will give priority to Hong Kong people’s needs over visitors’ demands.
In response to a query during a Legislative Council question and answer session this morning, Mr Leung said tourism contributed 4.7% of the total GDP, which is similar to the contribution from all professional services.
The tourism industry also created job opportunities for the grassroots, and he believed that many people will become jobless or underemployed if the industry were to contract.
He noted that the Government could not ignore the lack of capacity to accommodate visitors, and it will strive to balance supply and demand in areas such as tourist attractions and public spaces.
Mr Leung also said people should not harm Hong Kong’s image as a tourist destination in an attempt to resolve problems created by parallel trading, as it would be difficult to restore its reputation.
The Government and the Travel industry Council will boost promotion, said Mr Leung, adding that people should avoid radical action towards Mainland visitors.
He noted that there were fewer Mainland visitors during this Lunar New Year compared with last year. He feared that if this becomes a trend, the outlook for tourism and related industries will be affected.
