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Whereas spending cash on selling mega occasions and fireworks could assist Hong Kong tourism, we must always put extra emphasis on getting everlasting options proper for the long term. Listed below are some ideas (not in any explicit order of significance).

Develop two separate campaigns – one for mainland vacationers and the opposite for worldwide guests from different elements of the world, as their causes for coming could also be completely different.

Redevelop Aberdeen into an upmarket fishermen’s wharf. Cities corresponding to San Francisco and Seattle have made successes of the idea. Lei Yue Mun may be a candidate.

Central Market ought to have a theme. Proper now it’s a hodgepodge of retailers. Maybe it may be a spot to showcase delicacies from completely different elements of China.

Develop a spa lodge on Kau Sai Chau, close to the golf course, with high-speed boat connections to Central and Tsim Sha Tsui.

Clear up and improve the areas surrounding a few of our lovely seashores, corresponding to Repulse Bay, Deep Water Bay and Shek O.

Additional develop a promenade throughout our aromatic harbour for biking, working or strolling, with correct seating areas for the aged. Spruce up a few of our mountaineering trails with higher signage.

Extra infrastructure is required across the cruise terminal.

Encourage journey companies to bundle Hong Kong with Asean or the Higher Bay Space – and promote our function as a tourism connector.

Contact governments of the Affiliation of Southeast Asian Nations and pool sources to advertise the area as a vacationer vacation spot.

Develop dietary supplements for main journey magazines and newspaper journey sections, together with particular periodicals.

One closing suggestion is that varied authorities bureaus ought to work collectively and coordinate to make issues occur. We should change the silo mentality inherited from the colonial period through the executive officer coaching programme. Hong Kong authorities officers ought to be inspired to be extra artistic slightly than play it protected. The Tourism Board should play an necessary function in bringing all related events collectively.

Paul M.F. Cheng, Mid-Ranges

Do we all know Hong Kong’s distinctive promoting level?

I can’t agree extra with Luisa Tam (“Much less is extra in relation to Hong Kong staging ‘mega occasions’”, Might 25). The federal government likes to flaunt numbers. However what are these occasions? Are they actually “mega”? Who’re we focusing on? How do they make Hong Kong a must-go vacationer vacation spot?

A number of of the occasions appear to be common conferences and commerce reveals, now referred to as “mega”. One attention-grabbing instance is the Asia Funeral and Cemetery Expo and Convention held earlier this month. Whereas I might not dispute the significance of such an occasion, it’s onerous to get what’s so mega about it.

Positioning is about understanding one’s distinctive promoting level vis-à-vis the goal prospects. I’m curious to know Hong Kong’s positioning assertion as a vacationer vacation spot. Mainland vacationers stay our main supply market. What is exclusive about Hong Kong to them? I doubt if the Chinese language Kungfu x Dance Carnival will attraction to them, however a samba, salsa or “mega” worldwide dance carnival would possibly.

Hong Kong is completely different from mainland cities due to our cosmopolitan tradition, however have we made essentially the most of our energy? As an example, we may flip all of Hong Kong right into a mega Lan Kwai Fong.

We additionally have to entice overseas vacationers again to Hong Kong. However why ought to they arrive to Hong Kong in the event that they wish to expertise genuine Chinese language tradition? What’s distinctive about Hong Kong tradition? There’s much more to it than fish balls and egg tarts.

How would possibly Hong Kong reinvent Chinese language tradition for overseas palates? Take into consideration why Hollywood could make movies with Chinese language components that succeed globally.

Hong Kong has finished a poor job as salesperson; we don’t appear to know what we are able to supply. As we search our souls as to the way forward for Hong Kong tourism, let’s additionally interact members of our worldwide communities and professionals to develop really mega occasions that mainland and abroad vacationers will discover distinctive. We solely want a number of of such occasions.

Rachel Chan, North Level

Thoughts the invisible menace in clear skies

The turbulence that hit flight SQ321 is extraordinarily uncommon, however the fatality and critical accidents are a grim reminder of its risks.

In response to a current examine, plane encounter average to extreme turbulence 68,000 instances a yr. Out of many types of turbulence, clear-air turbulence is an invisible menace. It can’t be detected by the bare eye, onboard sensors and even satellites.

It could actually happen with out warning at excessive altitudes, and the unstable air lots may be 100 miles large and 300 miles lengthy. In response to atmospheric scientists, local weather change is making clear-air turbulence extra frequent.

Though Nasa researchers are creating ground-mounted infrasonic microphones to choose up ultralow frequencies produced by turbulence, predicting clear air turbulence with right this moment’s expertise is extraordinarily troublesome.

It’s crucial that we put on our security belts once we journey by air.

Farouk Araie, Johannesburg