The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) has released the visitor arrivals data for December 2021 and the year as a whole.
In December 2021 there were 9,448 arrivals (6.475 from the mainland, 2,973 non-mainland) a 94% rise year on year. But a 90+% drop from 2019.
Arrivals for 2021 were 91,368 (65,694 from the mainland, 25,704 non-mainland) a 97% drop from 2020.
Ahead of UN International Toilet Day on 19 November, MyTravelResearch.com announces the “Toilet Tourism Awards” to highlight the close link between toilets and successful tourism.
The aim of the awards is to show the link between adequate provision of good toilets and success in a visitor economy reliant on tourists, and to raise awareness of sanitation and toilet provision, especially in developing economies.
The UN says that inadequate toilet facilities cause disease, environmental health challenges, increased mortality, lack of productivity at work and security compromises for women. One in ten people still resort to open defecation daily. The UN is seeking to create adequate toilet provision for everyone by 2030.
The availability and quality of toilets impacts tourism in developed and lesser-developed economies. “Our focus is strictly on the overlap between toilets and tourism. That’s where we can make a positive contribution,” says Bronwyn White, co-founder of MTR.
In the Toilet Tourism Awards, the winners will be in six categories: Overall Winner, Best Tourism Economic Contributor (for when people stop at a toilet in a destination and stay on to spend more than a penny), Best Location (where the toilets have views and maybe considered an attraction in themselves), Best Design (architectural brilliance in toilets, visual design and creativity), Best Accessible Toilet, Quirkiest Toilet Experience (relating to local heritage, fun, or otherwise noteworthy).
From 19 November, toilet owners in tourism destinations around the world, submissions close 1 April 2017. The winners will be announced at the Travel and Tourism Research Association international conference in Quebec, Canada, 22 June 2017.
“This is the chance for toilet owners in tourism to wipe the floor with the competition,” says White. “I like to think of the Toilet Tourism Awards as the tourism industry’s own Game of Thrones.”
https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2016/Chinese-New-Year-Parade-2016/i-VCrzBft/0/XL/IMG_5311-XL.jpg
Merging old traditions with modern tourism the Hong Kong Tourism Board’s Chinese New Year Parade has become a popular spectacle with locals and visitors. The arrival of the year of the Fire Monkey was heralded with a vibrant, joyous visual extravaganza, a perfect start to the new lunar year. This year’s show featured 13 floats and 22 participating troupes from across the globe including from west coast America, the Netherlands and local groups performing alongside ‘big names’ such as Ocean Park and the Hong Kong Jockey Club.
bc’s Hannah Ridley was part of the Ocean Park troupe. “As a performer it was a very memorable experience, to have the opportunity to meet such a varied range of talented performers”. Asking around the participants almost everyone replies with a confident “yes”; practices were tough and tiring however upon seeing the smiles and waves from the crowd there is no doubt that all of the effort and time that was put in paid off.
Waiting backstage, it was fascinating to see the creativity and beauty as the various floats and troupes came to life and the parade took shape. Smiles and chatter were everywhere as performers of all ages interacted and in doing so created a lively and exciting environment bringing happiness and a cloak to any pre-start nerves. Personally that was the highlight of my evening, being part of such a diverse group from across the world, each possessing artistic talent and all sharing experiences and making memories.
A parade is unique, on stage the audience is cloaked in shadow their reactions mostly hidden and delayed. The box shaped parade route is a cacophony of sound and energy. The deep crowds on either side of the road creating a tunnel of energy and infectious enthusiasm that is unforgettable. The invigorating atmosphere and cheers inspire us as performers. The road becomes a river of joy along which we float. The snatched glimpses of the broad smiles on the faces of children in the arms of their parents or wedged against the barriers at the front, delight as much as they threaten to distract. The mutuality of the excitement that we as performers create and that the crowds give us is what makes a parade so magical. That even amongst all the excitement a high five or a wave to someone brings a wide smile is a very happy feeling.
Kung Hei Fat Choi
Wishing everyone a happy and prosperous Year of the Monkey.
After 46 years, it’s goodbye to the Wanchai (East) Ferry Pier. The last ferry will leave at 23:00 tonight, Friday 29 August 2014. A newly built pier opens on Saturday. The old pier, which is making way for the Wanchai harbourfront development project, began service in 1968 and in its heyday, ferries plied to and from Jordan Road, Hung Hom and Tsim Sha Tsui. Today, only the Wanchai to Tsim Sha Tsui route is in operation.
The new pier is a modern version of the old – not unlike the old pier the toilets are outside the barrier. Their looks to be dinning options to come on the upper level, which will offer a gorgeous view of the harbour.
www.starferry.com.hk
