Hong Kong unveils five-year tourism blueprint targeting film locations and tennis upgrades
SCMP · 1 SOURCES1 day ago2 MIN
Summary
Hong Kong authorities unveiled an ambitious five-year tourism development plan on Wednesday, aiming to significantly expand the sector's economic footprint through film tourism initiatives and potential upgrades to existing sports infrastructure. The 2026-30 blueprint sets a target of raising the tourism industry's value added from HK$86.2 billion in 2024 to HK$126 billion by 2030, representing a 40 to 50 percent increase over the period. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu announced a series of "+ Tourism" initiatives combining travel with mega-events, finance, industrial brands, ecological conservation and heritage preservation. The plan also targets increasing the proportion of non-mainland Chinese visitors among overnight travellers to 40 percent by the end of the decade.
Key Points
- The Hong Kong Tourism Board will launch a film tourism campaign on its website within 2026, promoting famous filming locations across the city and recommending nearby shopping and dining options
- A one-stop Support Unit for Non-local Film Productions will be established in the first quarter of 2027 to assist mainland and overseas film productions
- Victoria Park's Centre Court may be upgraded to host higher-level international tennis tournaments as part of the broader tourism strategy
- The second phase of the film exhibition at the Old Yau Ma Tei Police Station is scheduled to open in early 2027, having attracted 77,000 visitors in its first eight months
- Beyond film tourism, the government will promote yacht tourism, urban renewal tours and homestay accommodation on outlying islands
Why It Matters
The tourism sector's recovery and growth is critical to Hong Kong's economic diversification beyond finance, particularly as the city competes with regional destinations for visitors. By leveraging Hong Kong's iconic film heritage and exploring sports infrastructure upgrades, the government aims to create new revenue streams and attract higher-spending visitors from diversified markets, strengthening the city's position as a premier tourism destination in Asia-Pacific .
The tourism sector's recovery and growth is critical to Hong Kong's economic diversification beyond finance, particularly as the city competes with regional destinations for visitors. By leveraging Hong Kong's iconic film heritage and exploring sports infrastructure upgrades, the government aims to create new revenue streams and attract higher-spending visitors from diversified markets, strengthening the city's position as a premier tourism destination in Asia-Pacific .