The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, met with the Chairman of the Hong Kong Tourism Board, Mr Peter Lam Kin-ngok, on Tuesday (22 March) to discuss prospects for broadening tourism cooperation between the two regions.

Hong Kong and Macao have had – since the 1990s – a close relationship regarding the tourism industry, the Chief Executive noted in comments to Mr Lam and his accompanying delegation.

Mr Chui added that his administration would play an active role in the transformation of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao collectively into a world-class region for tourists.

He explained that Macao's economy was undergoing a period of adjustment, and the Government would work diligently to promote economic diversification and sustainable development.

As part of Macao’s drive for economic diversity, the Government would strive to increase non-gaming elements in its tourism sector, in order to appeal to new markets and attract more tourists.

Macao’s annual visitor arrivals number approximately 30 million, mainly coming from the mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan. The international market currently accounts for about 10 percent of all visitor arrivals.

Strengthening cooperation with Hong Kong should help Macao attract more tourists to visit Macao on multi-destination tours, noted Mr Chui.

Mr Lam agreed that Hong Kong and Macao can offer mutual support in relation to tourism.

The completion of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao bridge would be an important milestone for the cities of Hong Kong and Macao in terms of promoting closer cooperation in tourism, said Mr Lam.

He mentioned the recent partnership between Hong Kong and Taiwan to promote multi-destination holidays in Asia. Mr Lam suggested that Hong Kong and Macao could set up a similar partnership in order to attract more foreign visitors.

The executive director of the Hong Kong Tourism Board, Mr Anthony Lau Chun-hon, who also attended Tuesday’s meeting, noted that total visitor arrivals to Hong Kong fell by approximately 2.5 percent last year, the first decrease in 12 years.

He predicted that due to a variety of factors, this year’s number of arrivals would also show a year-on-year decline.

Officials who also attended the meeting were: the Chief of Office of the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Mr Ip Peng Kin; the Director of the Government Information Bureau, Mr Chan Chi Ping; the Director of the Protocol, Public Relations and External Affairs Office, Mr Fung Sio Weng; the President of the Institute for Tourism Studies, Ms Vong Chuk Kwan; the Director of the Macao Government Tourism Office, Ms Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes; and the Chairman of the Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong, Mr Jason Wong Chun-tat.