Hong Kong Wants Its People To "Smile More" Because Of Tourist Complaints
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By Tamara Jayne — 31 May 2024, 03:32 PM
Hong Kong is launching a hospitality campaign this June in a bid to attract tourists
South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that Hong Kong's tourism minister, Kevin Yeung Yun-hung, is encouraging people from all sectors to be more courteous.
He recently noted that while most Hong Kongers in the service sector are polite, there have been some cases of bad service from individuals.
Through this campaign, Yeung hopes that locals would "smile a little bit more" and "take the initiative to help tourists"
He also hopes that this kind of attitude and mentality can become a part of daily life, making tourists feel like they are at home.
This city-wide movement will involve schools, businesses, and transportation services.
Yeung revealed that several complaints have been received regarding the service of the city's airlines, Cathay Pacific.
He mentioned that the government will be coordinating with these departments to ensure the implementation of this campaign.
"I believe Cathay is seeking to enhance its service and it understands that the public has high expectations of it. We hope that as a flag carrier representing Hong Kong, it can showcase to the world that the city's airlines can do very well," he added.
Pang Yiu-kai, the chairperson of the Hong Kong Tourism Board, disclosed that last year's top tourist complaints included unfriendly taxi drivers, wait staff, and retailers, as well as poor WiFi and expensive accommodation
"A smile is free, why not give it away? The more you smile, the greater the chance tourists will give tips and so, more income," he said, according to SCMP.
On the flip side, he revealed that tourists most liked Hong Kong's convenient public transport system, efficient immigration procedures, and sightseeing options.
An estimate of 65.1 million travellers visited Hong Kong last year.
With the city poised to host 210 mega events by year-end, Hong Kong anticipates at least 1.7 million tourists attending these events
This influx of tourists is expected to boost the tourism economy significantly, with a projected spending of HKD 7.2 billion (RM 10.8 billion), contributing an additional HKD 4.3 billion (RM 6.45 billion) to the economy.
