2007-10-22 17:14 (New York)
Hong Kong and Macau have agreed to negotiate with the mainland government on combining into one the current separate visas for mainland tourists visiting the two cities.The aim is for mainland tourists, under the Individual Visit Scheme, to travel to both places in one trip, according to Hong Kong Tourism Board chairman James Tien Pei-chun who revealed the plan yesterday.
Hong Kong and Macau are not competitors but partners in tourism promotion, Tien said after meeting with Macau Chief Executive Edmund Ho Hau-wah and Macau tourism officials in the neighboring SAR. He said increasingly severe international competition has driven them to embrace their partnership.
The two cities are only separated by water, Tien said. Hong Kong, he said, should position itself as a sight-seeing, shopping and dining capital while Macau will continue to attract tourists with its World Heritage, gaming and entertainment facilities.
Tien added that the rapidly growing gaming industry in Macau and opening of foreign- owned casino resorts such as The Venetian with exhibition facilities will not harm Hong Kong's status.
"Hong Kong has limited convention space," Tien admitted. "We can't hold all exhibitions. There are a lot of facilities in Macau or Guangzhou."I believe it's still beneficial to us if they hold conventions somewhere nearby because they might visit Hong Kong."
Synergy is the theme in the collaboration - the tourism bureaus in both cities will jointly promote tourism and recommend travelers to visit their neighbors. Tien admitted data in the past was not very striking.
Last year two million out of more than 10 million visitors to Hong Kong went toMacau while Hong Kong only attracted 300,000 out of more than 10 million Macau visitors. Tien is optimistic over joint efforts to turn the picture into a potential"win-win" situation.
On the one-visa for mainland tourists plan, Tien is hoping Guangdong would take part in the partnership.The Hong Kong Tourism Board had proposed a one-trip, multiple-stop itinerary for long distance travelers with attractions located in Hong Kong, Macau and Guangdong. He said China Travel Service has shown interest in offering such trips.
Macau's Government Tourist Office director Joo Manuel Costa Antunes said Macau needs manpower, particularly in the tourism and hotel industries.The current Macau population of 400,000 cannot provide enough manpower for its growing needs, and Hong Kong's unemployment rate is slowing down, Tien said. The two tourism chiefs agreed on importing talents from Guangdong to cope with demand.
Tien said he will meet with Guangdong officials to discuss the possibilities for the schemes. He also pointed out a need to speed up the immigration process at ferry piers. He said the boat ride to Macau takes about 45 minutes. But it takes 15 to 30 minutes to pass through immigration.
Tien said Hong Kong and Macau have been partners for more than a decade but his trip highlighted the determination of both governments. Tourism officials will meet quarterly from now to refine the program.
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