Towards Sustainable Tourism – Key Problems and Issues Facing Hong Kong
HTM 4105 Contemporary Tourism Issues
Topic: TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE TOURISM – KEY PROBLEMS AND ISSUES FACING HONG KONG
Introduction
Unquestionably, Hong Kong is a blessed land where possesses prosperity and most of the elements of being a world class cosmopolitan which has successfully attracted visitors over years, especially from the mainland by emphasising our world-class shopping, dining and other urban attractions (Lam, H., 2004). Despite the flourishing scene of the tourism industry, the volatile tourist markets and growing competition from Southeast Asian countries and neighbouring destinations have posed new challenges to Hong Kong’s tourism industry.
In order to strengthen Hong Kong’s position as a preferable Asian tourist destination, in recent years, Hong Kong government has started paying more attentions to sustainable tourism due to the rising environmental consciousness worldwide and tourists’ growing interests in the new forms of tourism, namely Eco-tourism and Cultural Tourism. Projects and campaigns, such as the development of Hong Kong Wetland Park, the launch of “Cultural Kaleidoscope” and “Nature Kaleidoscope” experience programmes, and publishing tour guidebooks- “Discover Hong Kong Nature” and “Discover Hong Kong by Rail” were introduced to promote green tourism and cultural tourism (GovHK, 2009). These promotion schemes have been launched with the aim to sustain the tourism industry by diversifying the tourism products to cater to the changing and diverse needs of inbound tourist market. Despite the development is on track of continued growth which has aroused tourists’ interests to look at “the other sides” of Hong Kong, many issues are needed to take into consideration due to the complex nature of sustainable tourism and the large number of stakeholders involved in.
There is criticism from public that throughout these schemes, little attention has been paid to develop the tourism as a whole and a truly sustainable one since the
Topic: TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE TOURISM – KEY PROBLEMS AND ISSUES FACING HONG KONG
Introduction
Unquestionably, Hong Kong is a blessed land where possesses prosperity and most of the elements of being a world class cosmopolitan which has successfully attracted visitors over years, especially from the mainland by emphasising our world-class shopping, dining and other urban attractions (Lam, H., 2004). Despite the flourishing scene of the tourism industry, the volatile tourist markets and growing competition from Southeast Asian countries and neighbouring destinations have posed new challenges to Hong Kong’s tourism industry.
In order to strengthen Hong Kong’s position as a preferable Asian tourist destination, in recent years, Hong Kong government has started paying more attentions to sustainable tourism due to the rising environmental consciousness worldwide and tourists’ growing interests in the new forms of tourism, namely Eco-tourism and Cultural Tourism. Projects and campaigns, such as the development of Hong Kong Wetland Park, the launch of “Cultural Kaleidoscope” and “Nature Kaleidoscope” experience programmes, and publishing tour guidebooks- “Discover Hong Kong Nature” and “Discover Hong Kong by Rail” were introduced to promote green tourism and cultural tourism (GovHK, 2009). These promotion schemes have been launched with the aim to sustain the tourism industry by diversifying the tourism products to cater to the changing and diverse needs of inbound tourist market. Despite the development is on track of continued growth which has aroused tourists’ interests to look at “the other sides” of Hong Kong, many issues are needed to take into consideration due to the complex nature of sustainable tourism and the large number of stakeholders involved in.
There is criticism from public that throughout these schemes, little attention has been paid to develop the tourism as a whole and a truly sustainable one since the
References: Brohman, J. (1996). New Directions In Tourism For Third World Development. Annals of Tourism Research, Vol. 23, No. I, pp. 48-70, 1996 Lam, H., Hills, J GovHK. (2009). Hong Kong Fact Sheets: Tourism. Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government. Retrieved on 28 April, 2010 from the World Wide Web: http://www.gov.hk/en/about/abouthk/factsheets/docs/tourism.pdf McKercher, B Crets, D. (May 02, 2006). Tourism that works both ways. The Standard. Retrieved on 28 April, 2010 from the World Wide Web: http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_print.asp?art_id=17783&sid=7567018 Henderson, J Chu, C. and Uebegang, K. (2002). Saving Hong Kong’s Cultural Heritage. Civic Exchange. Retrieved on 29 April, 2010 from the World Wide Web: www.civic-exchange.org/eng/upload/.../200205_SavingCulturalHeritage.pdf Cheung, C South China Morning Post. Retrieved on 29 April, 2010 from the World Wide Web: http://archive.scmp.com/showarticles.php Ling, G Chong, V. (2007). Hong Kong 's green revolution. Straits Times. Retrieved on 29 April, 2010 from the World Wide Web: http://www.straitstimes.com/Free/Story/STIStory_147687.html