TIC
First-ever Cruise Holiday Expo showcases Hong Kong’s potential as Asia’s cruise hub
2013-09-20
Hundreds of travel industry members and guests gathered at the new Kai Tak Cruise Terminal to witness the opening ceremony of Hong Kong’s first-ever Cruise Holiday Expo. The three-day Expo, organized by the Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong (TIC) and co-organized by the Tourism Commission and the Hong Kong Tourism Board, is expected to attract over 35,000 visitors.
When officiating at the opening ceremony, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Mr Gregory So said, “With Asia’s blooming cruise tourism industry, the demand for this new way of travel is also developing fast. A key tourism policy area of the HKSAR government is to promote the development of our cruise tourism industry. With our strategic location and excellent infrastructure, we are well positioned to capture the potential growth. The completion of many upcoming infrastructure projects will also enhance the connection between Hong Kong and Mainland China, making it much more convenient for tourists from the Mainland, in particular those from Guangdong Province, to begin their cruise journey from Hong Kong.”
Also officiating at the opening ceremony were Mr Philip Yung, Commissioner for Tourism; Dr Peter Lam, Chairman of the Hong Kong Tourism Board; Mr Yiu Si Wing, Legislative Councillor of the Tourism Functional Constituency; and Mr Michael Wu, Chairman of the TIC.
“We are most grateful for the support of the international cruise lines, and our travel agent members and association members, without which an expo of such a scale would not have been possible,” said Mr Michael Wu. “To capture the growing potential of Hong Kong’s cruise tourism,” he stressed, “the TIC will continue to work closely with the industry and to respond to market needs with effective campaigns in future.”
The Expo is open to industry members only on its first day, and will welcome ticket-holding members of the public on 21-22 September. It features 17 leading world-class cruise brands and over 30 local travel agents, with fabulous special offers and select cruise packages exclusively for Expo visitors.
The Expo also includes over 30 sessions of on-site seminars where travel enthusiasts can get useful travel tips from experts, and industry members can exchange insights and interact. Lucky draw prizes worth over HK$440,000 are to be given out for winners to begin their cruise wonders.
While ticket sale has commenced in advance, a limited amount of tickets are available at the venue on a first come, first served basis. For more details, please visit the Expo website: http://www.cruiseholidayexpohk.com/.
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