“We are delighted to see positive growth in the GCC markets. In recent years, the HKTB has been actively developing new markets to open up visitor sources for Hong Kong. Given the healthy growth and spending power of consumers in the region, the GCC area has been identified as one of Hong Kong’s key new markets. Leveraging the growth momentum, we will focus on attracting the family and young segments in the market, and sustain our investment to develop the long-term potential of this region,” Anthony Lau, Executive Director of the HKTB, said.
In order to foster a closer working relationship with its trade partners in the GCC markets, the HKTB has appointed Gulf Reps Ltd as its trade representative in the region, effective from 1 May 2013. With its expertise in the travel trade industry and its extensive network, the Gulf Reps team will assist in the HKTB’s outreach to the travel trade and consumers in the GCC markets.
In addition to trade promotion, the HKTB is planning a series of initiatives in the coming months that aim at driving more arrivals to Hong Kong in the post-Ramadan holiday. Major activities include the launch of an Arabic version of the HKTB’s DiscoverHongKong.com website and the publication of an Arabic travel guidebook targeting family visitors. Visitors from the GCC markets can obtain more information about Hong Kong via these two channels.