Hong Kong Travel Expo opens on the 12th; Kaohsiung promotes four major tourism routes

Reported by You T-Ru / Comprehensive report

2014 Hong Kong Travel Expo Kaohsiung delegation departed from Kaohsiung International Airport’s Terminal 2 this (11th) to attend the event. The delegation aims to showcase the “10 Reasons CNN Loves Kaohsiung” to visitors from Hong Kong and Macau through four major tourism routes in Kaohsiung, as well as food, scenic attractions, and experiential tours such as a one-day farmer or fisherman rural experience, hoping to make them fall in love with Kaohsiung at first sight.


▲ The 2014 Hong Kong Travel Expo Kaohsiung delegation participates in the Hong Kong Travel Expo. (Photo / Provided by Kaohsiung City Tourism Bureau)

According to statistics from the Kaohsiung City Government Tourism Bureau, a total of 6,911,082 visitor stays were recorded in Kaohsiung in 2013, generating a production value of NT$40.576 billion. In particular, the post-stay industry outlook is very positive, attracting more domestic and international businesses to invest, showing that Kaohsiung’s tourism industry is booming. Following last year’s tourism promotion conference and participation in the Travel Expo by the Mayday band in Hong Kong, this year Mayor Chen Chu will personally attend, highlighting achievements such as winning the 2013 LivCom Awards—known as the International Green Oscars for livable cities—as well as showcasing tourism and agricultural industry resources and the Asia New Bay Area project, which has attracted over NT$30 billion in total investment, to impress visitors from Hong Kong and Macau.

Xu Chuan-sheng, Director of the Kaohsiung City Government Tourism Bureau, stated that the city government team has long planned and developed the harbor landscape, aiming to create new highlights for Kaohsiung. These include four internationally significant landmark buildings: the Ocean Culture and Pop Music Center, the Kaohsiung Municipal Central Library, the Kaohsiung Harbor International Port Passenger Transport Zone, and the Kaohsiung Exhibition Center. These will be connected via the ring-shaped light rail system, set to open by the end of the year, linking surrounding industries and promoting land development, business, accommodation, recreation, and tourism-related sectors. In addition, this year the Tourism Bureau has collaborated with the Agriculture Bureau and the Ocean Bureau to bring seasonal agricultural and marine specialties. In addition to attracting visitors to come to Kaohsiung to try these local products, they have also planned one-day farmer and fisherman experiences integrated with local communities, hoping to showcase the diverse facets of Kaohsiung’s tourism.

The Hong Kong Travel Expo is scheduled to take place from June 12 to 15 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. This year’s expo features participants from over 46 countries and more than 680 regional tourism industry players, making it one of the major international travel expos in Asia. In addition to participating in the event, the Kaohsiung delegation will also hold a Kaohsiung tourism promotion conference at the Hong Kong Kwang Hwa Information and Culture Centre on the 13th, as well as unveil two tram cars decorated with Kaohsiung tourism promotional designs, all aiming to establish a new image for Kaohsiung tourism.