Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) expects to attract 3.7 million visitors, up 20 percent on the usual summer figures, with its Hong Kong Shopping Festival starting next month. Half of the visitors will be from China.

More than 2,400 shops will extend opening hours to 22.00 or later, and to encourage visitors to get out and spend, HKTB will spend US$6.4 million on Aqua Fantasia, a 100-minute water show close to the Tsim Sha Tsui shopping hub.

The show was specially created by French artists and will project images of Hong Kong onto a 360-degree water screen three times nightly. HKTB estimates it will draw 75,000 people every night to the harbor side promenade.

Tourists will be issued with a special ‘passport’ that will give them generous discounts on many goods. Other events include Ocean Park’s Big Splash Summer and the Hong Kong Book Fair.

A HKTB spokesman said bars and restaurants would take turns to stage their own food festivals during the great shop-in period. Shoppers who make purchases will be eligible for a lucky draw featuring 56 prizes worth more than US$250,000.

Tourism Board executive director, Ms Clara Chong, said the emphasis would be on fun as well as bargains. Hopefully, the extra activities will persuade people to spend an extra night in Hong Kong, Ms Chong said. She is hoping to boost the summer events as a ‘city-wide party.’

“We want to keep tourists out and about late into the night,” she added. “That way, they have more spending opportunities.” In 2002, HKTB staged the “Mega Hong Kong Sale” which reportedly helped boost retail spending by 25 percent.

(CNTA.com May 18, 2004)