Dear Editor
I am writing to express my views about whether hosting major sports events is a good way to boost Hong Kong tourism. Tourism has always been one of the pillars supporting Hong Kong’s economic prosperity. However, this city’s tourist industry is now facing keen competition from neighbouring cities such as Singapore and Macau. In order to boost the competitiveness of the territory’s tourism, we could no longer use traditional promotion strategies like simple advertising. Therefore, I believe that hosting important sports events could undoubtedly be one of the ways to enhance our city’s competitiveness and to attract more tourists to visit Hong Kong.
First, during the sports events, many sports lovers will directly be attracted to Hong Kong, so as to watch and take part in the competitions. For instance, the international rugby competition held in the city every year helps bring a huge number of tourists, especially those from Europe and America, generating huge revenue to local catering as well as the hotel industry. In addition, more frequent visits of foreign tourists also reduce the reliance of our city’s tourist industry on visitors from mainland China. The significance of this is that Hong Kong’s tourism could be diversified and it becomes less likely to be greatly affected by political instability or fluctuations in the economic development of the mainland. All these favour the development of tourism in Hong Kong.
Besides, hosting sports events could also bring stronger incentives for the Government to improve local infrastructure, which help to promote the growth and development of the territory’s tourism. An excellent example illustrating this is the hosting of the Olympic Games in Beijing a couple of years ago. In order to prepare for the event, the Beijing municipal government actively improved and modernized facilities of the Chinese capital. For instance, the Beijing airport was expanded, with a new modern terminal built. The National Stadium built for the Games, commonly known as the ‘Bird’s Nest’ now, has even become a major tourist attraction after the Olympics, with significance similar to those of the Great Wall and the Forbidden City. The same principles could apply to Hong Kong, and the success of Beijing could come to reality again in the SAR.
Lastly, hosting major sports events also helps establish an image of Hong Kong as a healthy sporty city. With sports events like the East Asian Games and the recent Hong Kong Marathon, not only could the spirits and the love of sports spread to the Hongkongers, the tourists visiting the city could also feel and enjoy the festive and joyful atmosphere filling the streets and corners of the metropolis. After the visitors return to their countries, they could become the living advertisements for Hong Kong, promoting the city to their families and friends. This is the best way to boost the city’s tourism.
In conclusion, hosting sports events is definitely beneficial to the local tourist industry. However, Rome was not built in one day. Boosting local tourism absolutely requires the persistent long-term cooperation between the Government and the public. Therefore, let us work together to make the Pearl of the Orient more brilliant than ever.