Hong Kong 2006
 GO
Chapter 15:
Travel and Tourism
Introduction
Tourism Infrastructure, Facilities and Products
Improving Tourist Appeal
Hong Kong Tourism Board
Protection for Travellers
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Improving Tourist Appeal

Enhancement of Visitor Signage

To provide an easy-to-follow system of signs at popular tourist spots, the Tourism Commission introduced a Visitor Signage Improvement Scheme in 2001. The scheme covers 18 districts and was completed in December 2006. It comprises directional signs, mapboards and identification signs to guide visitors, and provide interesting information about the area.

Service Quality

The HKTB's Quality Tourism Services (QTS) Scheme, set up to promote quality service in shops and restaurants, is widely supported by the industry and has helped to improve the standard of service offered to visitors. By the end of 2006, more than 1 284 retail and catering businesses, with 6 301 outlets, 6 per cent more than the previous year, had earned QTS accreditation.

In November 2006, the HKTB extended the scheme to cover visitor accommodation with valid tourist guesthouse licences, which are popular with independent travellers, aiming to help visitors identify quality budget guesthouses. The HKTB also stepped up promotion of the scheme abroad as well as at home, and implemented a series of training programmes in 2006 to upgrade the standard of services provided by accredited merchants.

A hospitable community is essential to the development of the tourism industry. The Tourism Commission continues to carry out a territory-wide public education campaign entitled 'A Hospitable Hong Kong'. One of the key programmes is the Hong Kong Young Ambassador Scheme, which teaches young people how to serve as 'ambassadors' to overseas visitors and to spread the hospitality message among their peers.

Easier Visitor Entry

The Individual Visit Scheme, introduced by the Mainland authorities to allow residents to visit Hong Kong in a personal capacity, has been well received since its implementation. More than 6.67 million mainlanders visited Hong Kong under the scheme in 2006, which was extended to cover 44 cities during the year, including all cities in Guangdong province, Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing, Tianjian, Chengdu, Jinan, Dalian, Shenyang, Changsha, Nanchang, Nanning, Kunming, Guiyang, Haikou and nine cities in Fujian, Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces. The Tourism Commission, in collaboration with different government departments and the tourism industry, drew up measures to cope with the upsurge of Mainland visitors, especially during the 'Golden Week' holidays. The measures have demonstrated that Hong Kong is capable of receiving a large number of visitors during peak holiday seasons.
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