1. Benefits of Kowloon restaurants and hotel business
a. New attraction
b. More tourist visit Hong Kong
c. Bring more customers to Kowloon
2. Provide Jobs
a. Need to recruit more staff
b. Reconstruction of capital items
c. HK local tour
According to a release, upon the phased completion of a planned transport network, the new cruise terminal at the Kai Tak development site and neighbouring districts will be more closely connected, enhancing economic benefits, Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Gregory So said.
In a written reply to the Legislative Council, Mr So said the Government will continue to co-operate closely with major cruise companies and the Hong Kong Tourism Board to attract more cruise vessels to Hong Kong.
He said more resources will be allocated to the Tourism Board to strengthen its co-operation with cruise lines to promote Hong Kong’s cruise market, and to lengthen the stay of cruise liners and tourists in Hong Kong through collaborative efforts with the travel trade in developing more diversified shore-excursion programmes.
It would also continue to strengthen the co-operation with nearby ports to enhance the regional cruise market’s potential.
Government projections of the financial benefits of the Kai Tak terminal appear to be overestimated by as much as 75 per cent, a South China Morning Post investigation has found.
Official estimates reported in 2008 suggested the total value-added contribution to the economy would be HK$860 million to HK$1.09 billion this year alone.
But an analysis of the numbers expected when 37,000 passengers on 16 ships using the terminal between its opening in June and April next year suggest this is hugely optimistic.
An examination of each vessel's itinerary by the Post shows Hong Kong will be a port of call for seven out of 10 passengers; the rest will be joining or ending their cruise tours in the city.
Based on the 2012 per capita