HK tourism sector urged to offer packages to National Games visitors

The Hong Kong government has called for the tourism industry to offer various travel merchandise and promotional packages to visitors at the upcoming National Games , which is set to debut in November.

The 15th National Games , jointly organised by Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao, will be held from 9 to 21 November this year. The city will host eight tournaments, including men’s U22 basketball, fencing, golf, rugby sevens, and triathlon, as well as one mass participation event in bowling.

Meanwhile, the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the 9th Special Olympics will take place from 8 to 15 December this year. Over 100,000 attendees are expected for both sports events, according to the authorities.

The city's tourism chief Rosanna Law Shuk-pui said in a LegCo panel on Monday that for the first time, two major national sporting events are being jointly hosted by Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao, marking a significant milestone and the government has been striving to deliver the best quality of preparation, including establishing a preparatory committee in May 2023.

Law stated that a centralised ticketing system would be implemented for all competition venues across Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau, with further operational details to be released in due course.

Apart from preparing for the tournaments, Law said the tourism bureau also promotes the two games via various channels. Once the Guangdong Provincial Executive Committee had finalised ticketing policies, Law said her team would engage with the tourism sectors to create packages to attract Chinese and overseas visitors to attend the games.

“We have already got in touch with the tourism sector and hope that it can roll out some packages or discounts,” Law added. “When the ticketing arrangements are announced, all host cities will work together to tackle issues such as demand exceeding supply and scalping.”

Meanwhile, the second phase of the National Game’s promotion will run until July, with the third stage commencing in August. More photo spots featuring the games’ mascots, Xiyangyang and Lerongrong, will be established, and areas around the competition venues will incorporate elements of the games to inspire the community with sports vibes.

Most recently, Law said the authorities will consider joint promotional campaigns for the 15th National Games and the upcoming Legislative Council elections in December to maximise publicity and economic benefits.

Law emphasised the government's commitment to comprehensive promotion, noting the close timing of both events presents synergistic opportunities. While campaigns may cover distinct areas such as sports and civic engagement, they will maintain unified messaging.

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