Beautiful China: Promotion Campaign for 2013 China Marine Tourism Year Held in Hong Kong

On April 10, Beautiful China: Promotion Campaign for 2013 China Marine Tourism Year was launched in Hong Kong and would last for four days. Participants at the opening day activities included Du Jiang, Vice Chairman of China National Tourism Administration; Philip Yung Wai-hung, Commissioner of Hong Kong Tourism Commission; Joseph Tung Yao-chung, Executive Director of the Tourism Industry Council of Hong Kong, and leaders of Hong Kong Tourism Board and other relevant authorities.

During the first promotion session held on April 12, large crowds were overflowing with excitement at Plaza Hollywood where the event was held. The exquisite booths of 21 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions formed an interesting exhibition, and a fabulous art show was staged with programs showing the special attractions of various regions and ethnic groups. Local visitors were deeply absorbed into the show and queued up in front of the questionnaire desk. Each round of the lucky draw aroused waves of excitement from the crowd. Travel agencies such as China Travel Service (Hong Kong), Wing On Travel, Hong Thai Travel, and CITS Hong Kong were invited to sell their products at the event, and their promotion was well received. The tourism delegation from the mainland was interviewed by Xinhua News Agency, Ta Kung Pao, and Sing Pao Daily News.

Taking this promotion campaign as a great opportunity, Sichuan Tourism Board launched the first session of its promotion campaign for the Marketing Year for Cities with Nonstop International Flights. Fujian Tourism Board held a special introduction seminar, and tourism officials from Inner Mongolia, Zhejiang, Henan, Hubei, Shaanxi, Ningxia, and Xinjiang visited local tourism authorities and enterprises to have in-depth discussion on further tourism exchange and cooperation.

In order to prepare a more effective promotion campaign, starting from early March Asia Tourism Exchange Center had launched advertisement series for Beautiful China in MTR trains, public buses, and the airport as well as other busy areas, set up a dedicated page for Beautiful China: 2013 China Marine Tourism Year on its official website, promoted the event online through search engines, Facebook, and Hong Kong BBS, and solicited routes for study tours, tours for the aged, and tours by high-speed railway which were promoted at the event.
(Credit: Department of Affairs on Tourism of Hong Kong, Macao & Taiwan)