City Beat: Events like the Dragon Boat Carnival can cure declining tourists to Hong Kong
Small details, like the well-organised Dragon Boat Carnival, are key to attracting tourists
The week before, I had my first taste of a major attraction in the city - the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Carnival.
I must admit that being a Hongkonger, I've never been very enthusiastic about this traditional annual event basically because it is usually held in July, one of the hottest months. The scorching heat definitely deters me from staying outdoors for hours.
But this year, I was attracted by the fantastic photos taken by our photographers, plus the promotion by the Tourism Board.
I therefore made up my mind that I didn't want to miss it - at least this one time. So I went down to the Tsim Sha Tsui East waterfront on the last day of the carnival - a Sunday.
It was all sweaty but the atmosphere was great! The event featured more than 400 teams from 13 countries and regions, including some teenage teams, and it was free of charge. Walking along the Avenue of Stars, I saw tourists from the mainland and overseas, as well as local families. All were attracted by the incessant beating of gongs and drums. Little children were especially fascinated by the dragon boats competing in the harbour.
It was super hot, but it was also fun walking along the harbourfront.
Teams from different countries waiting for their race were happily greeted by tourists, who could enter various game booths to try their luck and win a gift or souvenir.
This is not the only, or the most exciting, annual tourism attraction in our city. To name a few, we also have the annual Chinese New Year parade and fireworks performance; and food and wine festivals. The annual book fair also attracts lots of visitors from home and abroad. However, there is one worry - that people are losing interest in our city.
The Tourism Board recently sent out a warning as it revealed its latest arrival figures. Last month, Hong Kong saw a 2.9 percent decline year-on-year in the number of visitors - the second such monthly drop. It was described as the sector's "flu" by Tourism Board chairman Peter Lam Kin-ngok, who called for effective cures before things get worse.
For Lam, remaining vigilant over a possible decline is his responsibility, but the "cures" are there for all of us to work on.
Many have blamed anti-mainland sentiment plus recent restrictions on the use of multiple-entry permits by Shenzhen residents as a major cause for the drop. That is why the Tourism Board launched a promotion package on China Central Television (CCTV).
But if we look at things from a wider perspective, Hong Kong's tourism industry could also be vulnerable to outside factors.
Economic uncertainties triggered by the Greek crisis, the depreciation of currencies in the region, especially in Japan, and the latest stock market turmoil on the mainland are all unfavourable factors for Hong Kong.
Realising this is important because hospitality and new attractions aside, Hong Kong needs to display and enhance more of its unique features.
Take the Dragon Boat Carnival for instance. It was a perfect opportunity to showcase Hong Kong as a unique world city. Spectators on the waterfront, locals and tourists alike, were all in high spirits supporting their favourite teams.
"Everything is so orderly, that's great. I like Hong Kong," said one mainland tourist who was standing beside me.
I looked around. There were so many people present, but it was all well organised. Event staff, police and emergency personnel were all smiling while keeping order and offering a helping hand if needed.
Small is beautiful. Apart from mega events, big sales or other such promotions, every detailed and caring arrangement, no matter how small it is, is a good cure for the city's tourism sector because it is important in guaranteeing a good experience for tourists, rather than becoming an ordeal or even a danger.
