Hong Kong tourism industry eyes ethnic minority recruits to welcome Muslim visitors

Recruiting more employees from ethnic minority groups can help Hong Kong to better cater to Muslim travellers from the Middle East and Southeast Asia, a tourism sector leader has said, even as language barriers remain an issue for some looking to join other industries.

Yu Guangming, deputy general manager of the China Travel Service, said on Wednesday that the company hoped to employ more staff from ethnic minority groups to make use of their language and cultural skills.

“From a business needs standpoint, we have positions such as tour guides and cultural consultants that are well-suited for ethnic minority candidates to leverage their language and cultural advantages,” he told the Post.

Yu was among those taking part in a job fair organised by the Labour Department and the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong political party to help people from such communities find work.

The event, titled the “Building a Multicultural Workplace Job Fair”, was launched at Mong Kok’s MacPherson Stadium on Wednesday and will run for another day.

Yu also said the recruitment drive aligned with the Belt and Road Initiative, adding that he had noticed the government was actively pursuing economic exchanges with the Middle East and South Asia.