TOURISM IDEAS: INFORMATION & ACCESS

OBSERVATION: Hong Kong’s tourism industry has been battered due to social unrest and might require new solutions for the future to attract more broad market segments.

SOLUTION: Re-imagine the future tourism for Hong Kong through the creation of a long-term vision, leveraging the city’s existing strengths, establishing new initiatives, and upgrading the city’s infrastructure.

Countless visitors have remarked that there is nowhere on earth that is quite like Hong Kong. One of the most-visited places on the planet, Hong Kong’s geographical location, unique history, culture, colonial past and amazing adaptability can be further leveraged to provide a wide range of tourism opportunities to attract broad market segments from across the world.

While Mainland Chinese visitors currently, and will likely continue to dominate Hong Kong’s tourism scene, catering to a single source market is often risky. Hong Kong’s past moniker as a “shopping paradise” may have faded into the mists of time as the city grapples with how it should now reposition itself. Tourism destinations often need to reinvent themselves, especially after periods of poor performance, and Hong Kong is no exception.

Architect and hospitality consultant Thomas Schmidt, AIA of Sepia Design Consultants Limited ponders a few initiatives that might diversify tourism and reposition Hong Kong over the years to come:

TOURISM IDEAS – INFORMATION & ACCESS:

TOURIST INFORMATION:

Tourist Information Offices in Hong Kong are primarily limited to major transportation interchanges. While tourists increasingly rely on their smartphones for tourist and wayfinding information, some degree of human contact with a personal touch is still needed.

  • Offices: Like many European cities, could Hong Kong have more Tourist Information Offices sprinkled across the city which are accessible by visitors on foot?
  • Rating System: Could the city’s restaurants be made to adopt a mandatory Food Hygiene Rating System to better inform tourists of the quality level of a particular dining establishment?

WAYFINDING:

Hong Kong’s MTR stations offer excellent vicinity maps with surrounding attractions, but outside of these areas visitors are often out of luck.

  • Maps: Could a new system of exterior neighborhood maps be erected in areas not served by the MTR to provide visitors with an overview of the vicinity and its attractions?
  • Road Crossings: Could new speed bumps be provided at pedestrian crossings that calm traffic and prevent tourists from being mowed over by speeding traffic? The existing life-saving practice of indicating the direction of traffic, and which way for pedestrians to look, should be implemented throughout the territory.
  • Technology: Could new smartphone apps be created to assist visitors in exploring the city?

TRANSPORT SYSTEMS:

Hong Kong arguably has one of the most comprehensive public transportation networks on the planet. However, there are aspects which could be greatly improved to cater to first time visitors.

  • Airline Seating: Could arriving air travelers begin their “Hong Kong Experience” on the right foot by being provided with mood-based seating arrangements for incoming flights?
  • Bus Stops: Could the existing confusing array of different bus stop markers and schedules be redesigned into a more legible and graphically-consistent format, and posted on fewer poles?
  • Bus Information: Could some bus stops have digital kiosks with screens containing route information, typhoon warning indicators, and other real-time bus arrival data to assist visitors in getting around?
  • Innovations: Could new autonomous hive-technology transport systems whisk visitors between various attractions?
  • Tunnel Fares: Could tunnel tolls be equalized to reduce cross-harbour travel times for tourists so they can make the most of their visit to Hong Kong? No one likes to be stuck in traffic when they’re only visiting for a day or two.
  • Rickshaws: Could the venerable rickshaw make a comeback and be used as a unique transportation experience for tourists? Could a new harbourfront promenade become a centerpiece for rickshaw rides for tourists to get a taste of old Hong Kong?
  • Cross-Harbour Taxis: Could the irritating — and technically illegal — practice of many taxi drivers refusing passengers passage between Kowloon and Hong Kong Island at their sole discretion be abolished?
  • Taxi Octopus: Could taxis be outfitted with Octopus readers to offer visitors a seamless cashless method of exploring the city?
  • Taxi GPS: Could taxis be installed with GPS tracking systems to minimize tourists from being fleeced by unscrupulous drivers?
  • Water Taxis: Could there be new water taxis plying the length of Victoria Harbour to increase transportation options for visitors?
  • Kowloon Trams: Could a new tram system be constructed in Kowloon to help visitors explore these populous neighborhoods?
  • Sai Kung Ferry: Could a new ferry service to Sai Kung be provided to further open up exploration of Hong Kong’s Geopark for visitors?
  • MTR Loop: Could the MTR Island Line be extended to form a loop to provide for more efficient visitor access to various attractions?

PUBLIC TOILETS:

The embarrassing lack of public toilets throughout “Asia’s World City” catches many first-time visitors by surprise.

While the above ideas are by no means an exhaustive listing, it is hoped they will provide food for thought as to how Hong Kong might reinvent itself relative to future tourism.