The Federation of Hong Kong Hotel Owners (FHKHO) warmly welcomes the Chief Executive's 2025 Policy Address. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to driving synergy between culture, sports, and tourism, injecting new momentum into the economy and enhancing Hong Kong’s global appeal. This holistic approach aligns closely with the Federation’s priorities and reflects the government’s determination to revitalize the tourism sector and foster sustainable development.

The Policy Address outlines a series of strategic initiatives aimed at promoting Hong Kong as a premier global destination, many of which resonate with the Federation’s earlier submissions.

Driving Synergy: Culture, Sports, and Tourism

The government emphasizes the synergistic development of culture, sports, and tourism to strengthen Hong Kong’s position as a global hub. Key measures include:

Establishing a high-end art trading hub to attract international buyers and collectors.
Promoting the diversified development of West Kowloon Cultural District, creating a vibrant cultural ecosystem.
Introducing a market-oriented model to enhance the value of facilities and services under the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD).

Key Tourism-Related Initiatives

The Federation is pleased to see a clear focus on developing Hong Kong as an Asian yachting hub, leveraging the city’s natural advantages. Key measures include:

Increasing yacht berths: Adding around 1,100 berths across projects such as the Aberdeen Typhoon Shelter expansion and the Kai Tak Yacht Park, which will accommodate superyachts.
Streamlining yacht entry requirements: Introducing a dynamic monitoring system, simplifying entry procedures, and enhancing electronic submission of entry documents.
Strengthening Greater Bay Area connectivity: Collaborating with Guangdong and Macau governments to implement seamless yacht travel initiatives such as “Northbound Hong Kong Yachts” and “Southbound Mainland Yachts.”

Event-Driven Tourism (“Mega Events + Tourism”)

The government’s “Mega Events + Tourism” initiative is designed to attract visitors by integrating cultural, festive, and sporting events with tourism. Significant highlights include:

20th Anniversary of Hong Kong Disneyland: Upgraded facilities and new attractions to celebrate the milestone.
Revitalizing Ocean Park: Launching panda-themed activities and products to sustain its popularity.
Racing Tourism: Organizing horse racing themed events in 2024 to promote Horse Racing tourism.
Boosting cruise tourism: Enhancing the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal to attract more international cruise lines, with a projected 20% increase in cruise visits in 2023.

Elevating Hong Kong as a Luxury Tourism Destination

The government aims to establish Hong Kong as a world-class destination for luxury travelers, offering bespoke experiences that cater to the highest standards of sophistication and exclusivity.

Below is a summary of key initiatives outlined in Chapter 8 (Cultural, Sports and Tourism Synergistic Development) and Chapter 6 (Support for SMEs) for easy reference:

Policy Area	Details	Paragraph
“Tourism Everywhere” Strategy	Development of unique local and international tourism products, enhanced travel arrangements, and improved border crossing experiences to promote seamless tourism.	185
Yachting Economy	Expansion of yachting facilities with 600 new berths, streamlined entry procedures, and enhanced regional connectivity with Guangdong and Macau to position Hong Kong as an Asian yachting hub.	186
“Mega Events + Tourism”	Integration of cultural festivals and major events, including Disneyland’s 20th anniversary upgrades, Ocean Park’s panda-themed activities, and horse-themed celebrations in 2024, to extend visitor stays and attract repeat visits.	187
Cruise Tourism	Enhancements to the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal, including a review of leasing terms to improve its competitiveness, with cruise visits projected to increase by 20% in 2023.	190
Eco-Tourism and Local Experiences	Development of “Four Mountains” hiking trails, treetop adventure areas, outdoor historical museums, glamping facilities, and countryside heritage tours featuring traditional villages, temples, and farmland to enrich rural tourism.	191, 193
Positioning Hong Kong as a Luxury Destination	Tailoring exclusive, high-end experiences for affluent travelers, including premium itinerary planning, concierge services, and luxury experiences to elevate Hong Kong’s appeal as a luxury travel destination.	195
Expanding Middle East and ASEAN Tourism Markets	Promoting Muslim-friendly tourism by encouraging businesses to provide halal-certified facilities and dining options, with financial support for restaurants to apply for halal certification (up to HK$5,000 subsidy per application).	196
Enhancing Border Crossing and Service Quality	Rebuilding the Huanggang and Sha Tau Kok border crossings with “cooperative inspection, one-time clearance” procedures, launching a “contactless clearance” system at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, and recognizing exemplary service providers to promote hospitality excellence.	197
Support for SMEs	One-year license fee waivers for food and liquor establishments (Para. 240(ii)), faster approvals for alfresco dining (Para. 240(iv)), and introduction of dog-friendly restaurant licenses to support innovation and growth in F&B businesses.	240, 246

Looking Ahead

The Federation welcomes the government’s efforts to expand visitor sources, promote sports development, and leverage cultural and tourism synergies to enhance Hong Kong’s competitiveness. Policies such as the yachting economy, event-driven tourism, and high-end travel development align perfectly with the Federation’s recommendations. These initiatives will create new opportunities for the hotel industry and reinforce Hong Kong’s position as a world-class destination.

Thank you for your continued support and dedication to the Federation and our industry.