HK shoppers flocking north for bargains, fun and food(5)

Cultural identity

Allan Zeman, dubbed the "King of Lan Kwai Fong" — the city's famed nightlife district — said Hong Kong needs to nurture a unique cultural identity to draw tourists. Mainland visitors are no longer as enthralled by Hong Kong shopping malls as they were in the past, Zeman said. "Any type of shopping mall we see in Hong Kong can also be seen in every city on the mainland," he said.

Zeman said Lan Kwai Fong's success had been partly driven by the influx of young mainland tourists keen to "experience something different", be it flipping through English-language menus and viewing the "exotic" cuisine or trying to pronounce the names of cocktails. "Mainland tourists spent much more before the pandemic," he added.

Hong Kong tourism could benefit from organizing more "world-class "night bazaars, he said.

"Inspired by the likes of Singapore and Taiwan, let's ensure we do it with the utmost excellence. Our goal should be to create an impactful experience, setting it apart from ordinary markets," Zeman said.

Restaurants should offer customers more alfresco dining options, he said, adding this is a crucial element that contributes to a city's cultural atmosphere.

From a global perspective, collaboration with other cities in the GBA is essential for Hong Kong to develop into an international tourism hub, by giving full play to the comparative strengths of each metropolis in the 11-city cluster.

The city's acting secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Raistlin Lau, said the Hong Kong Tourism Board will continue to strengthen cooperation with Macao and other GBA cities to participate in overseas promotions.

It will also collaborate to "develop and promote multi-destination themed itineraries and tourism products that cater for the different interests and preferences of visitors with a view to attracting more overseas visitors to Hong Kong", he added.