Hong Kong courts Middle East tourists with ‘high-end’ sports offerings

Hong Kong has sought greater partnerships with its Middle East tourism counterparts with high-end offerings such as sports and horse racing in a bid to promote itself as a premier destination for the region’s travellers.

The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) also signed two Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) on Monday with two major travel agents in the region, Musafir.com and Almosafer International Travel and Tourism Company, to establish a framework for future cooperation.

The signings were carried out while a delegation of about 30 Hong Kong travel trade representatives visited Dubai.

City authorities have ramped up efforts to woo Middle East tourists as the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law Shuk-pui went on a charm offensive in Dubai on Monday to expand the city’s market outreach in the region.

She met the sports minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), HE Dr Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, and highlighted the vibrant horse racing culture in the city. She also invited him to visit Hong Kong to explore further opportunities for sports cooperation and exchange.

Law’s meeting was followed by another with China’s consul-general in Dubai, Ou Boqian, during which the tourism chief outlined plans to foster collaboration and build stronger connections between Hong Kong and the Middle East.

“She emphasised that Hong Kong has competitive advantages in high-end tourism, horse racing tourism and yacht tourism, which presented significant potential for further development,” the government said.