Hong Kong will be projected as the ultimate romantic, fairytale-inspired shopping and entertainment destination in the return of the WinterFest promotion this year.
Organised by the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) the promotion aims to attract young and family visitors to spend their holidays in the territory.
The 2015 WinterFest packages a stocking full of festive events, including the Sparkling Bulgari Roman Holiday, the Hong Kong Countdown Celebrations, and the Hong Kong Pulse 3D Light Show, as well as seasonal programs offered by shopping malls and major attractions.
HKTB executive director Anthony Lau says the board will invest more than HK$21 million on overseas promotions for the winter period, more than double last year’s amount.
“Our aim is to attract more visitors and encourage them to spend a longer time in Hong Kong to create business opportunities for the tourism and related sectors. We will focus on the Mainland and short-haul markets, and launch various visitor privilege programs.”
In the northern, eastern and western parts of the Mainland, the HKTB will promote quality travel, highlighting the Quality and Honest Hong Kong Tours and the city’s hospitality; in Taiwan, it will target the young segment with romantic packages and discounts, such as an NTD$7000 (approximately HK$1655) three-day, two-night package; and in Southeast Asia, it has partnered with airlines to develop special packages for four catering for families.
A highlight of this year’s WinterFest is the Sparkling Bulgari Roman Holiday, co-organised with Italian luxury brand Bulgari. The promotion will infuse Statue Square in Central with a romantic ‘Roman’ ambience through a light-art installation in the shape of the brand’s trademark ‘Serpenti’, glittering Christmas trees, a candy house, a wishing tree and a photo booth. Visitors and local residents can enjoy hot cocoa and confetti, a traditional Italian confectionery, while sharing photos and holiday greetings with friends and families near and far. All the proceeds from the promotion will be donated to the charity Save the Children.
On the other side of the harbour, the Hong Kong Pulse 3D Light Show will be staged again, showcasing a fairytale Christmas to spread the cheerful atmosphere. The Hong Kong Cultural Centre and the Clock Tower will become a storybook, with flipping pages revealing magical surprises, like Christmas elves. The Tsim Sha Tsui area will also be decorated with the signature Christmas lights to create wonderful memories for locals and visitors alike
Added to the festivities are wide-ranging programs and Christmas decorations by major attractions, shopping malls, dining districts and hotels, which are packaged along with the Hong Kong WinterFest events, as well as the Hong Kong Countdown Celebrations, to underscore Hong Kong’s position as the preferred winter destination in Asia
The attractions which were granted subsidies by the Matching Fund for Overseas Tourism Promotion by Tourist Attractions began their overseas promotions this month. The HKTB believes their promotions and Hong Kong WinterFest will achieve synergy in attracting visitors to Hong Kong this winter.