Bureau Chairs Inter-departmental Meeting to Coordinate Golden Week Visitor Preparations
SingTao · 5 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
The Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau held an inter-departmental meeting on September 11 to coordinate Hong Kong's preparations for the National Day Golden Week from October 1-7, with Bureau Director Lo Suet-pui emphasizing the importance of cross-departmental cooperation and coordination with mainland counterparts to deliver quality tourism experiences. The government outlined its ongoing efforts to combat forced shopping practices, including recent license revocations by the Travel Industry Authority, demonstrating its commitment to protecting visitor rights and maintaining Hong Kong's reputation as a premier travel destination.
Key Points
- The inter-departmental meeting took place on September 11, chaired by Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau Director Lo Suet-pui, to coordinate visitor reception for the October 1-7 National Day Golden Week
- Government departments represented included the Hong Kong Police Force, Immigration Department, Customs and Excise Department, Transport Department, Department of Health, Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, and district offices
- Tourism bodies including the Travel Industry Authority, Hong Kong Tourism Board, Travel Industry Council, West Kowloon Cultural District Authority, major attractions, and the hotel sector attended the meeting
- The Travel Industry Authority revoked licenses from two travel agencies and one tour guide on September 7 for involvement in forced shopping, following similar actions in April, June, and August
- The government also reminded departments to prepare for the Mid-Autumn Festival long weekend from September 25-27, when visitor numbers are expected to rise
Why It Matters
With National Day Golden Week representing one of Hong Kong's peak tourism seasons, effective coordination between government agencies and industry players is essential to manage the visitor influx and maintain the city's competitiveness against regional destinations. The continued enforcement against forced shopping practices demonstrates the authorities' commitment to protecting tourist rights and restoring confidence in Hong Kong's tourism industry .
With National Day Golden Week representing one of Hong Kong's peak tourism seasons, effective coordination between government agencies and industry players is essential to manage the visitor influx and maintain the city's competitiveness against regional destinations. The continued enforcement against forced shopping practices demonstrates the authorities' commitment to protecting tourist rights and restoring confidence in Hong Kong's tourism industry .