At the “Western China Tourism Development Workshop” organised by Hong Kong Pei Hua Education Foundation and The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Mr Anthony Lau, Executive Director of the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) introduced latest tourism development and initiatives of the HKTB to Mainland officials and executives, helping them gain greater insight into Hong Kong’s tourism.
As an effort to engage the community and enhance understanding of the HKTB’s work, Mr Anthony Lau, HKTB Executive Director, shared tourism industry updates and strategic focuses of the HKTB with members of Rotary Club of Central.
At the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Carnival organised by the Hong Kong Tourism Board, several Mainland, overseas and local media teams joined the well-known dragon boat teams and paddled down Victoria Harbour. Vying for the Media Cup Race trophies were teams from Hong Kong, the Mainland, Korea, Australia and other regions, with Hong Kong Broadband Network Ltd the first to pass the finishing line.
The HKTB was invited to provide training for the Hong Kong Young Ambassadors, who will play a part in introducing Hong Kong to visitors or promoting the city overseas under the 2010/11 Hong Kong Young Ambassador Scheme. The training session, which included an introduction to the role and mission of the HKTB and its work in promoting Hong Kong as a travel destination worldwide, served to equip the young ambassadors for their future tasks.
Dragon boat racing is advocated as a beneficial sport for breast cancer survivors. In late July, the HKTB invited “Dragons Abreast Hong Kong” and the Singaporean “Pink Spartans”, two dragon boat teams formed by breast cancer survivors, to take part in the Pink Dragon Boat Race at the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Carnival. It is hoped that the race, together with an on-site bazaar booth by “Dragons Abreast Hong Kong”, would help raise funds and enhance awareness of breast cancer.
Among the many spectators at the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Carnival – the anchor event of the HKTB’s marketing platform this year – was a group of local secondary school students invited by the HKTB to enjoy this spectacular event on site. In addition to adding a fun and meaningful touch to the students’ summer vacation, the outing was also hoped to raise the students’ interest in tourism mega events and traditional Chinese festivals.
To encourage young people’s involvement in the Dragon Boat Carnival, the spotlight event of the Hong Kong Tourism Board in this hot summer, several student reporters were invited to interview the coaches and representatives from five local media organizations who will be competing for the Media Cup - one of the most anticipating races in the Carnival.
Mr Anthony Lau, Executive Director of the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), was invited by the Department of Business Administration, Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education to be a guest speaker of the “IVE Business Administration Distinguished Lectures Series”. In his speech titled “Brand Building – Promotion Strategies of Hong Kong Tourism Board”, Mr Lau shared with 300 professors, lecturers and students the creative strategies adopted by the HKTB in branding Hong Kong as a world-class travel destination, as well as his experience and insight in tourism marketing.
Our Immigration Control Officers, who are the first contact points of visitors as they set foot in Hong Kong, play an important role in creating a favourable first impression of the city among visitors. Through the years, the Hong Kong Tourism Board has been supporting “The Most Courteous Immigration Control Officer Election” campaign by the Immigration Department, appointing the elected winner as the “Hong Kong Courtesy Ambassador”. We hope the campaign will inspire even more frontline immigration officers to extend customer-focused, quality services to visitors.
On the Chinese New Year Eve, every district was bursting with the festive spirit. The HKTB worked with Christian Action in arranging an early and memorable celebration of the Year of the Tiger with some members of the city's ethnic minority community and local youngsters, by inviting them to the dress rehearsal of the Chinese New Year Night Parade. Members of the Morioka Sansa Odori Dance Troupe were invited to acquaint the youngsters with their traditional musical instruments.

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