Hong Kong Hosts Annual Meeting of Greater Bay Area Tourism Federation

The Tourism Federation of Cities in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao Bay Area convened the second Annual Meeting in Hong Kong on 12^thJune to forge collaborative initiatives for the year, at which member entities keenly expressed their views on the tourism development prospects across the Greater Bay Area, followed by comprehensive discussions.

Closing one chapter, opening another

In summing up the progress of work in 2018, the Deputy Director General of the Guangzhou Municipal Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism Bureau, Wu Qingsong, stated that the major tasks addressed last year by the Federation included successfully convening the first General Membership Meeting, enhancing the co-operative and exchange mechanism, conducting joint promotions, continuously deepening co-operation between markets, jointly building accessible tourism districts, and strengthening cultural exchange and co-operation between Guangzhou, Hong Kong and Macao.

The new Rotating Chairman of the year - Commissioner for Tourism of the Tourism Commission of the Government of the Hong Kong SAR Joe Wong - joined other members in discussing the 2019 work scheme, confirming a range of key initiatives including the provision of greater convenience for visitors in terms of connectivity across the Greater Bay Area, strengthening co-operation on market regulation, enhancing co-operation on destination promotion, and supporting industry operators develop more tourism products.

Macao active in Greater Bay Area tourism

During the meeting, MGTO Deputy Director Cheng Wai Tong delivered remarks upon the major tasks MGTO has been conducting this year to advance tourism development throughout the Greater Bay Area.

These include promoting multi-destination travel itineraries and jointly tapping into international tourism markets; expediting tourism integration with Hengqin and exploring island tourism; leveraging the opportunities presented by the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge for the strategic integration of tourism resources in the Greater Bay Area; continuously optimising tourism quality and supporting the building of a tourism education and training base for the Greater Bay Area.

Other specific tasks planned or currently underway include organising multi-destination familiarisation visits to the Greater Bay Area; a joint tourism promotional event to be organised in Singapore in July with the tourism authorities of other member cities encouraging multi-destination travel to the Greater Bay Area; organising a Greater Bay Area tourism promotion in Los Angeles with the Department of Culture and Tourism of Guangdong Province and the Hong Kong Tourism Board in September; setting up joint booths at various major travel fairs; and leveraging other co-operative platforms to conduct strategic promotions with various member cities of the Greater Bay Area.