TOURISM industry leaders and government officials from Beijing and Hong Kong joined some 800 global travel stakeholders at the WTCF Hong Kong Fragrant Hills Tourism Summit 2025, which came to a close yesterday.
The three-day event was hosted by the World Tourism Cities Federation (WTCF) and the Hong Kong government’s Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau. Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism and Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) were among the organisers.
Held for the first time in Hong Kong, the summit at the Kerry Hotel emphasised the city’s major role as an international tourism destination and offered fresh momentum for the global tourism industry’s future growth, a HKTB spokesperson said.
The summit attracted around 800 local and international attendees from over 40 countries and more than 60 cities, including city mayors, deputy mayors, diplomats stationed in Hong Kong, representatives of international organisations, industry leaders, and tourism-related stakeholders.
The event featured a Mayors’ Forum, research report launches, themed forums, promotional activities, business matching sessions, and exhibitions.
A new platform for multilateral exchange and cooperation among global tourism cities was established with the aim of strengthening international city partnerships and fostering the sustainable growth of urban tourism economies.
The event attracted significant industry attention, sparking extensive discussion about tourism opportunities in Beijing and Hong Kong.
HKTB and China Tourism Group (CTG) co-hosted the Hong Kong Tourism Development Forum under the theme “Future Forward: Hong Kong Tourism New Horizons” to gather insights from government leaders, senior executives from international corporations and academics.
Rosanna Law, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism; Dr Peter Lam, Chairman of HKTB; and Wang Haimin, Chairman of CTG, delivered opening remarks. Senior executives from Cathay Pacific, Trip.com, Hong Kong Disneyland, Royal Caribbean, and Estée Lauder Companies, delivered presentations on strategic directions for the tourism industry.
Looking ahead, the GBA creates an exciting milestone for Hong Kong and regional tourism, providing fresh opportunities to share the richness of our city and region with the world. As a super connector, Hong Kong will continue to deepen partnerships across the GBA and with international markets.”
– HKTB Chairman Peter Lam
The forum also featured a panel discussion moderated by Dai Bin, President of the China Tourism Academy. Industry leaders from business consultancy Dingdu Group, food-delivery platform Meituan, and hotel operator H World Group joined the discussion, along with Professor Haiyan Song, Associate Dean of the School of Hotel and Tourism Management at Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and Perry Yiu, Legislative Council Member (Tourism). The panellists provided insights into the latest trends, developments, and opportunities shaping Hong Kong’s tourism industry.
DELEGATES MARVEL AT HONG KONG
To offer delegates a direct experience of Hong Kong’s diverse attractions, HKTB arranged four themed itineraries, guiding participants to explore several landmark sites and gain deeper insights into the city’s unique characteristics.
Participants joined various tours, including a visit to Ocean Park and its newly opened Giant Panda Pavilion to learn about Hong Kong’s conservation initiatives from an international perspective, as well as a sightseeing tour by boat of Aberdeen Typhoon Shelter to explore the city’s historical fishing village culture. Another group rode the Ngong Ping 360 cable car to admire The Big Buddha, the world’s highest outdoor bronze seated Buddha, and enjoyed panoramic views of the South China Sea and Ngong Ping plateau, experiencing Hong Kong’s blend of natural beauty and spiritual culture.
Others took the sixth-generation Peak Tram to Victoria Peak, taking in panoramic views from Sky Terrace 428 and Peak Tower, followed by a water-taxi tour of Victoria Harbour, passing iconic landmarks and appreciating the harbour’s scenery.
Another tour featured an open-top bus ride around Kowloon, with visits to cultural institutions such as the Hong Kong Palace Museum or M+ in the West Kowloon Cultural District, and Tin Hau Temple, showcasing Hong Kong’s distinctive combination of traditional heritage and modern urban life, and highlighting the city’s unique fusion of Eastern and Western cultural and artistic influences.
