(Warning: The following is complete satire and the author is not responsible for any ridicule one may receive in the event that one chooses to use this ad for any serious purposes.)
To all powers-that-be in Hong Kong's tourism industry:
Tourism is one of the pillars of the Hong Kong economy and many people's livelihood depends on the number of tourists visiting the city and the money the tourists spend.
In recent years, the city faces increasing competition from neighbouring cities and regions (for tourists and their dollars). In particular, Macau has become quite a tourist magnet. While many tourists choose to visit both Hong Kong and Macau, some tourists have chosen to visit Macau only, perhaps because Macau possesses some features and characteristics that Hong Kong allegedly does not — gambling, small-town charm, and heritage buildings. To lure tourists who are interested in these things, we should start promoting that Hong Kong do possess these features and attractions.
Many tourists visiting Macau spend some time trying out their luck at one of the town's casinos. While there are many in Hong Kong lobbying the government to build Vegas-style casino(s) in the city, it will be years before the any one opens. However, there is already a casino in town, one whose turnover makes the cash going through any one of Macau's casinos looks like chump change — the Hong Kong stock market. Many people in mainland China are eager to wager on stocks trading in Hong Kong and there are rumours of tourists coming to the city for the sole purpose of buying stocks. We can target these gamblers and offer thrills, agony, and ecstasy that no casino can match. More importantly, only those who are true high-rollers will be able to afford the high entry fee the exchange now charges, meaning that they will be arriving with a boatload of cash to spend in Hong Kong. The food-and-beverage, hotel, and retail industries will also benefit, as these people have to find ways to spend their money after trading closes each day.
Many, mainly locals, complain that one cannot distinguish one district from another and that the city is too homogeneous. There are also complaints that town planning only focuses on development and pays little attention on growing the community. What they forget to mention is that there remain close-knit communities within Hong Kong, particularly in the outlying regions. We can promote the uniqueness of these communities to tourists who find small towns attractive. We can also sell local specialties in the progress, helping those living in the communities make some cash. In the campaign, we should emphasize that these communities are dwindling and those tourists interested in visiting should act quickly before the communities become homogenized with the rest of the city.
Macau's heritage district features many historic buildings within walking distance of each other. While Hong Kong does not feature such a district, there are many heritage buildings many tourists find attractive. Some of them are in danger of being demolished. Tours should be organized for tourists to visit historic structures, in which the tour guide will describe the history of the buildings and their uncertain future. To help fund such tours, replicas of the structures that are sentenced to be bulldozed will be sold on site. The tours can also visit sites where buildings significant to the city's history used to be. We can also invite participants of these tours to make a return trip to visit such sites after they have been redeveloped.
If these suggestions are adapted, they will attract tourists and help strengthen Hong Kong's tourist industry and keep the economy strong.
Sincerely,
Jason Lau