My Hong Kong | Why tourism-hungry Hong Kong needs to get with the times, put inclusion front and centre and even become a diversity hub
- Hong Kong’s official attitude towards gender diversity and equality tarnishes its reputation as a welcoming tourist hub in the eyes of many
- By embracing inclusivity and respecting people’s identities and genders, Hong Kong would reap the benefits, and could even become a diversity hub
In the past, Hong Kong was renowned for its competitive prices for shopping, dining and hotel accommodation, drawing tourists in droves.
However, over time, this allure has diminished. Despite this decline, tourists, particularly those from mainland China, continued to flock to the city until the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, enticed by the guaranteed quality of what the city had to offer, from its exquisite cuisine to luxury malls - albeit at rising costs.
I used to proudly boast to visiting friends that they could traverse the globe through dining experiences within a mere kilometre from their lodgings in Hong Kong.
Presently, dining in the city remains a gastronomic journey, albeit marred by exorbitant prices and inconsistent service standards that do not always align with the food quality.
Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po recently underscored that Hong Kong’s allure does not lie in offering rock-bottom prices. He addressed the grievances of local retailers and restaurants about residents crossing the border in pursuit of more affordable options, a trend exacerbated by the strength of the Hong Kong dollar.
