Targetting growth in the leisure and MICE segments from India, Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) recently organised its annual travel mission in India from August 21 to 25 covering four key markets of Chennai, Mumbai, Kolkata and New Delhi. Around 31 Hong Kong trade partners participated in the programme with an aim to engage directly and continue to build strong relationships with the Indian trade and develop new and attractive itineraries for the India market.

The 4-city travel mission will enable Indian travel trade to get insights into what Hong Kong has to offer different groups of travellers. India is now among the top 15 source markets for Hong Kong in terms of visitor arrivals. Over the last three years, Hong Kong has seen a rise in younger travellers aged between 25 to 45 years within the leisure segment. Key consumer target segments include families, young travellers and MICE groups in key markets of Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai and Kolkata.

According to Peter Hoslin, Regional Director, Europe and New Markets, Hong Kong Tourism Board, India has always been an important market. “Families have been a core travel segment and we are also seeing immense opportunities in the leisure travel segment, especially among millennials and independent travellers. Through our travel mission we are looking to strengthen our relationships with our existing partners and foster new partnerships to promote new packages that offer the best of Hong Kong to Indian travellers.”

The key attractions that will be in focus for HKTB this year will be customised experience-based itineraries around city & culture, outdoor activities, culinary trails, nightlife and bargain shopping. Some key new highlights include five walking tours in Old Town Central, visit to Big Buddha and Po Lin Monastery and outdoor activities on Lantau Island, Nature hiking trails with views out over Victoria Harbour, Secret temples and popular theme park attractions like Disneyland and Ocean Park.