Sheffield Business School BSc (Honours) Tourism Management Title The analysis of Hong Kong as an International Convention Destination Name HO Mei Ngan Student No 91204778 Month Year April 2010 Sheffield Hallam University Sheffield Business School Title The analysis of Hong Kong as an International Convention Destination FULL NAME HO Mei Ngan, Fanny STUDENT No 91204778 Supervisor: Ms. Monica Low In partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Tourism Management. Month Year April 2010 Acknowledgements I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Mr. Howard Young, Professor Ray Pine and Dr. John Ap. If it was not for them, I would not be able to do the primary research for this study. I greatly appreciate their contribution to this study. Ms. Monica Law, my dissertation supervisor, has guided me in completing this study throughout the academic year. I am truly grateful to her for her ongoing guidance and advice. Special thanks is also going to Mr. John Perry, Mr. David Egan and Dr. Kevin Nield who gave me instruction and direction at the early stage when I was confessed about the research method. I am deeply grateful to their patience and kindness. ii Abstract This study aims to investigate the possibility of Hong Kong to become the top 5th world destination by 2020. The model destination mix is used to examine the current and future tourism development in Hong Kong. Furthermore, this study also looks at whether each individual component of destination mix follows sustainable tourism practices. The study deployed both primary and secondary research approach. Primary research is in-depth interview with tourism professional and experts. Secondary research is extensively reviewing the existing data from various sources to support this claim. The research results show that Hong Kong has the potential to become the top 5th world destination by 2020 thanks to the contribution of the tourist arrivals from China. This study also analyzes the current tourism development in terms of attractions, amenities, accessibility, hospitality resources and government policy. It also emerges that Hong Kong governments lacks a tourism master plan to guide and govern future tourism development. Also, it is indicated the city’s current tourism policies does not follow the concept of sustainable development. This study provides six recommendations to the HKSAR government on how tourism should be planned. iii Contents Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................ ii Abstract ........................................................................................................................ iii Contents ........................................................................................................................ iv List of Figures ............................................................................................................ viii List of Tables ................................................................................................................. ix Chapter 1 Introduction ................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Rationale of the research ...................................................................................... 1 1.2 Aims of the research ............................................................................................. 4 1.3 Objectives of the research .................................................................................... 4 1.4 The subject areas and the areas in which the research will impact ...................... 4 1.5 The overall structure of the report ....................................................................... 5 Chapter 2 Literature Review .......................................................................................... 7 2.1 Concept of tourist destination .............................................................................. 7 2.2 Destination Mix ................................................................................................. 10 2.3 Definition of Sustainability ................................................................................ 13 2.4 Sustainable Development................................................................................... 14 2.5 Sustainable Tourism ........................................................................................... 15 2.6 Carrying Capacity .............................................................................................. 20 2.7 Destination Life Cycle Model ............................................................................ 22 2.8 Competitive Advantage ...................................................................................... 24 2.9 Tourist arrivals of Hong Kong from 1999 to 2009 ............................................ 25 Chapter 3 Methodology ............................................................................................... 27 3.1 Research proposition .......................................................................................... 27 3.2 Rationale of the research .................................................................................... 27 3.3 Research method ................................................................................................ 28 3.4 Primary research ................................................................................................ 28 3.5 Secondary research ............................................................................................ 30 3.5.1 Books: ......................................................................................................... 31 iv 3.5.2 Journals articles: .......................................................................................... 31 3.5.3 Governmental authorities and their website: .............................................. 31 3.5.4 Government Documents ............................................................................. 31 3.5.5 Websites ...................................................................................................... 31 3.5.6 Newspapers ................................................................................................. 32 3.5.7 Annual Reports............................................................................................ 32 3.6 Constraints on the research ................................................................................ 32 3.7 Strengths and weaknesses of the research ......................................................... 33 3.8 Post research evaluation ..................................................................................... 34 Chapter 4 Results ......................................................................................................... 35 4.1 Finding ............................................................................................................... 35 4.1.1 Attractions ................................................................................................... 35 4.1.1.1 Natural attractions ................................................................................ 35 4.1.1.1.a National Parks ............................................................................... 35 4.1.1.1.b Country Parks................................................................................ 36 4.1.1.1.c Wetlands ........................................................................................ 36 4.1.1.1.d Beaches ......................................................................................... 36 4.1.1.2 Built attractions .................................................................................... 36 4.1.1.2.a Historic, cultural and heritage properties ...................................... 36 4.1.1.2.b Museums ....................................................................................... 37 4.1.1.2.c Temples and Mosques ................................................................... 37 4.1.1.2.d Theme parks .................................................................................. 37 4.1.1.2.e Streets with special interests ......................................................... 38 4.1.1.2.f Attractions showing the old Hong Kong ....................................... 38 4.1.1.2.g Modern attractions ........................................................................ 38 4.1.2 Amenities ................................................................................................. 39 4.1.2.1 Lodging ................................................................................................ 39 4.1.2.2 Food and Beverage .............................................................................. 39 4.1.2.3 Support industries ................................................................................ 39 4.1.3 Accessibility ................................................................................................ 40 v 4.1.3.1 Transportation ...................................................................................... 40 4.1.3.1.1 Transportation terminals ............................................................... 40 4.1.3.1.1.a Airports ................................................................................... 40 4.1.3.1.1.b Ports and Harbours ................................................................. 40 4.1.3.1.1.c Cross-border