Replies to initial written questions raised by Finance Committee Members in examining the Estimates of Expenditure 2012-13 Director of Bureau : Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Session No. 12 File name : cedb(cit)- doc
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- Examination of Estimates of Expenditure 2012-13
Question : How will the Hong Kong Tourism Board explore convention business in six priority industry sectors (medical, medical science, social science, computer science, engineering and sports-leisure-culture) in 2012-13? What is the estimated funding? What is the estimated revenue for Hong Kong? Will it be more justifiable and appropriate for the Hong Kong Trade Development Council to undertake the task of promoting and developing specific secotrs? What are the policies to avoid the misuse of public funds due to the overlapping of work between the Hong Kong Tourism Board and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council? Asked by : Hon. TSE Wai-chun, Paul Reply : In 2012-13, the Meetings and Exhibitions Hong Kong (MEHK) under the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) will continue to explore and encourage large-scale conventions of six targeted industries (medical, medical science, social science, computer science, engineering and sports-leisure-culture) to be held in Hong Kong. Major initiatives include:
In 2012-13, the MEHK plans to spend $49.4 million on MICE promotion. Since the MEHK will deploy resources flexibly in response to changing needs, and the majority of the publicity activities can simultaneously promote MICE tourism, there is no breakdown of expenditure figures on individual items. We believe that staging large-scale or international MICE events in Hong Kong would help promote Hong Kong as a premier MICE destination, generate business opportunities for the MICE trade, and bring long-term benefits to the economy of Hong Kong. In 2011, there were 1.56 million overnight MICE visitors to Hong Kong, up by 9.3% over 2010. MICE visitors are usually high-spending visitors. According to provisional figures, the per-capita spending of overnight MICE visitors in 2011 was $9,328, up by 10.0% over 2010 ($8,475) and 27.2% higher than the overall figure of $7,333 in 2011. Various industries like tourism, hotel, aviation, retail, food and beverage, entertainment, etc. have been benefitted. We expect that MICE arrivals will increase by 11% to 1.73 million in 2012. Since its establishment in 2008, the MEHK has been strengthening MICE promotion in overseas source markets, providing one-stop support for event organisers, and enriching travel experience of MICE visitors by cross-selling tourism products. The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (TDC) is responsible for promoting trade of Hong Kong, including goods and services. TDC will roll out different promotional campaigns in accordance with the Government’s policies on the aforesaid six priority industry sectors. Hence, the MEHK and TDC have different roles, but their work is complementary.
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