Top Tourist Destination Overview made constant efforts in enhancing The annual Wine & Dine Festival With a unique blend of East and West, guest experience with new themed showcases Hong Kong’s great wining and old and new, Hong Kong is one of Asia’s areas, attractions and entertainment dining attractions, enhancing the city’s top tourist destinations. From high-end offerings. The much-anticipated “Iron status as the culinary capital of Asia. shopping malls to bustling street Man Experience” and the “Disney bazaars, ancient Chinese temples to Explorers Lodge” resort-style hotel were Asia’s Top MICE Destination towering skyscrapers, neon-lit streets to launched in 2017. The construction Hong Kong is Asia’s premier Meetings, verdant countryside, Hong Kong is a city works for the new attractions under the Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions of colour and contrast. expansion and development plan at the (MICE) destination. As October 2017, Phase 1 site of the resort is now under overnight MICE arrivals reached More diversified tourism products are way. The plan will bring new attractions 1.5 million. planned to increase Hong Kong tourism’s to the resort progressively from 2018 appeal, attract more overnight and to 2023. In 2017, Hong Kong was selected the high value-added visitors and tap “Best Business City in Asia” at the newer markets. Cruise Terminal Business Traveller Asia-Pacific Travel The state-of-the-art Kai Tak Cruise Awards and “Best Business City in Asia” New themed tours, featuring heritage, art Terminal has strengthened Hong Kong’s in the Smart Travel Asia Award. In 2016, and culture, authentic experiences, green position as a leading cruise tourism hub. Hong Kong was ranked “Asia’s Leading tours and cruise tours will be developed. Meetings & Conference Destination” in The terminal features spacious passenger Major events such as the FIA Formula E the World Travel Awards. and service areas and a 23,000 square Hong Kong E-Prix and the Volvo Ocean metre rooftop garden. With 360-degree Hong Kong’s world-class venues Race - Hong Kong Stopover enhance views of Victoria Harbour and an can accommodate conventions and Hong Kong’s appeal. impressive array of amenities, the exhibitions of different scales. The main As October 2017, Hong Kong welcomed terminal meets the demands of a new venues are the Hong Kong Convention 47.9 million visitors. generation of super cruise liners and has and Exhibition Centre in the heart of the capacity to simultaneously handle the city, AsiaWorld-Expo near the airport Tourism Attractions two of the world’s largest cruise ships. and Hong Kong International Trade and Hong Kong continues to develop Its open design and spacious interior is Exhibition Centre in Kowloon Bay. its tourism sector by expanding its highly flexible and offers an excellent The Kai Tak Cruise Terminal also offers world-class attractions. venue for performances and events. an excellent venue for MICE events. • Hong Kong Disneyland and Ocean Park The terminal served about 190 ship calls Events Galore Hong Kong ranked 17th and 18th in 2017. Together with Ocean Terminal The Hong Kong Tourism Board organises respectively among the theme parks and other berthing facilities in Hong Kong, popular events such as the International worldwide, according to the latest we received a total of over 245 ship calls Chinese New Year Parade, Hong Kong Themed Entertainment Association’s in 2017. Cyclothon, Hong Kong Wine & Dine Global Attractions Attendance Report. Hong Kong is an excellent place for Festival, Hong Kong Winterfest and • Ocean Park Hong Kong is a world-class cruise lines to develop fly-cruise business Hong Kong New Year Countdown. Events marine theme park featuring more than for long-haul cruise passengers who such as Clockenflap attract international 80 attractions. The park is developing would like to experience Asia. musical talent. an all-weather indoor-outdoor waterpark, which is expected to be Hong Kong hosts a wide variety of Culinary Paradise completed in the first half of 2019. international sporting events, including The 2018 edition of the Hong Kong Ocean Park Marriott Hotel Michelin Guide the FIA Formula E Hong Kong E-Prix was features 227 and Fullerton Ocean Park Hotel Hong Hong Kong and Macau held for the second time in Hong Kong restaurants, including 63 Hong Kong Kong is scheduled for completion in in December 2017 and the first Volvo Michelin-starred restaurants. Many 2018 and 2021 respectively. Ocean Race - Hong Kong Stopover, inexpensive restaurants and street stalls • Hong Kong Disneyland Resort is one in January 2018. offering local delights, make Hong Kong’s of the most popular and best themed Michelin restaurants some of the most The city’s best known sports event, resorts in Asia, featuring more than affordable in the world. the annual Hong Kong Rugby Sevens 100 attractions. The resort has tournament, considered to be the world’s premier Sevens tournament, continues to UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural The Hong Kong Maritime Museum at attract top teams and thousands of rugby Heritage Conservation. The revitalisation the Central harbourfront presents fans from around the world. of the Blue House Cluster (into the Hong Kong’s maritime heritage. Viva Blue House) received the Award of The 1.76 hectare Tamar Park in Eco-tourism Excellence, the top honour, in the 2017 Admiralty features a landscaped garden, UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Perhaps no other city offers such a water features, a floating platform and an Heritage Conservation. spectacular range of scenery within such amphitheatre. The Central Harbourfront easy reach of the city centre. Much of Other projects under the Scheme event space hosts a variety of exciting the territory is protected countryside. include: the Former Lai Chi Kok Hospital events. There are 24 country parks, 22 special which has become the Jao Tsung-I Along the stretch from Wan Chai North areas and five marine parks with scenic Academy for Chinese culture; Lui Seng to North Point via Causeway Bay, it is hills, woodlands, reservoirs and coastline, Chun, which has become the Hong Kong proposed to develop an arts and culture most of which are easily accessible from Baptist University School of Chinese precinct, water park precinct, a water urban areas. Medicine – Lui Seng Chun; and, recreation precinct, a heritage precinct the Stone Houses which has been Apart from the stunning Hong Kong and a leisure and recreation precinct. UNESCO Global Geopark located in revitalised into the Stone Houses Family the eastern part of Hong Kong – which Garden. Apart from the Revitalisation “A Symphony of Lights” has taken on a features rare hexagonal volcanic rock Scheme, other built heritage conservation new direction in December 2017. With columns – Hong Kong boasts numerous projects include the Former Police new music and lighting effects, the show hiking trails, outlying islands and other Married Quarters on Hollywood Road has transformed Hong Kong’s cityscape green attractions for nature lovers. which has been revitalised into a creative into a true symphony. Other harbourfront industries landmark, the “PMQ”; and the attractions include the giant observation Many Hong Kong hiking trails are The Central Police Station Compound, wheel, as well as art events and carnivals easily accessible from urban areas. dating from the mid-19th century, which year round. The 100-kilometre MacLehose Trail is being revitalised and transformed was listed by National Geographic in its into the Tai Kwun (‘Big Station’ in Festivals “World’s Best Hikes: 20 Dream Trails” Cantonese), a vibrant centre for heritage, Hong Kong celebrates Western and in 2016. contemporary art and leisure. Eastern festivals with equal enthusiasm. Lunar New Year and the Mid-Autumn Heritage Conservation The Former Explosives Magazine Compound of the Old Victoria Barracks, Festival are major festivals. There are currently 117 declared built between 1843 and 1874 by There are also unique local festivals such monuments, including historic buildings, the British Army, now houses the Asia as the Cheung Chau Jiao Festival ancient forts, rock carvings and archaeo- Society Hong Kong Centre. This cultural, logical sites. (Bun Festival), Tai O Dragon Boat Water artistic, and intellectual hub won Parade, Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance and The Revitalising Historic Buildings the prestigious 2016 Institute Honor Yu Lan Ghost Festival. Also popular are Through Partnership Scheme encourages Awards for Architecture given by the Western festivities such as Christmas, non-profit-making organisations to American Institute of Architects. Easter, Halloween, Valentine’s Day transform government-owned historic and Oktoberfest. buildings into cultural landmarks, Harbourfront Enhancements preserving their integrity while enhancing Victoria Harbourfront is being enhanced Arts events such as the Hong Kong Arts their utility. with promenades, parks and other Festival, Hong Kong International Film The revitalisation of the Former North beautification projects. Festival, Le French May, Chinese Opera Festival and International Arts Carnival, Kowloon Magistracy (into the Savannah “Kai Tak Fantasy” aims to develop the and, in alternate autumns, New Vision College of Art and Design Hong Kong), tip of the old Kai Tak Airport runway Arts Festival and World Cultures Festival Mei Ho House (into the YHA Mei Ho and adjoining areas into a world-class enhance the line-up. House Youth Hostel) and the Old Tai Po tourism, entertainment and leisure hub Police Station (into the Green Hub for for the local community and visitors. sustainable living) received Honourable Mentions in the 2011, 2015 and 2016 Kwun Tong Promenade is an attractive UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural and vibrant harbourfront leisure space Heritage Conservation, respectively. for public enjoyment and three adjoining The revitalisation of the Old Tai O Police sites are providing facilities for creative, Station (into the Tai O Heritage Hotel) arts and cultural uses. gained the Award of Merit in the 2013 (January 2018) .