Hong Kong Tourism celebrates Year of the Dragon in YVR
Michael Lim, the director of the Americas for the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) partnered with Emily Mo, director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Toronto, to host Year of the Dragon celebrations in Vancouver recently.
Chinese New Year got a full Hong Kong welcome in Vancouver recently, as Hong Kong tourism and economy executives came west from Toronto to ring in the 2024 Year of the Dragon.
They did so in the company of a healthy crowd of Hong Kong tourism partners and supporters, all assembled at the Shangri-la Hotel in downtown Vancouver.
Leading the proceedings was Michael Lim, the director of the Americas for the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB). He was joined by Emily Mo, director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Toronto, and Catherine Yuen, the western Canada principal consultant for the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office.
Alan Puana, head of trade sales for the Americas at Cathay Pacific in Los Angeles (l.) and Marks Johannus, the western Canada trade accounts manager for CX in Vancouver (r.) met with Marian Lam, the general manager of JBC Travel in Richmond.
“North America is leading the recovery of Hong Kong,” said Lim, referring to the wave of inbound tourism from Canada and the U.S. as Hong Kong tourism bounces back from the effects of the pandemic.
New tourism strategy in place
Lim noted that a new tourism strategy for Hong Kong is its inclusion in the Greater Bay Area region, taking in the Pearl River Delta, the cities of Macau and Zuhai, and the province of Guangdong (including Guangzhou) in mainland China.
The new Hong Kong-Zuhai-Macau Bridge (HZMB) that spans the Greater Bay waters now allows and encourages this regional perspective, said Lim.
Michael Lim of the HKTB and Emily Mo of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office were joined by members of the Hong Kong Freestyle Kendama Association during the evening event at the Shangri-la Hotel.
Adding fuel to this outlook is the opening of the Skypier at Hong Kong International Airport. Ferries that operate from the pier take passengers directly from the airport to places in the Pearl River Delta like Macau and Zuhai, without needing to clear immigration/customs through Hong Kong.
The delegation and guests were joined by members of the Hong Kong Freestyle Kendama Association, who demonstrated the sport of kendama by displaying skills of balance with balls, cups and other implements.
