Tuesday, January 21, 2025 Hong Kong has been encouraged to develop a comprehensive all-in-one app to enhance the tourist experience as part of a broader push toward smart tourism. Industry leaders and government officials have highlighted the potential for technology to play a critical role in revitalizing the tourism sector under the newly introduced “Development Blueprint for Hong Kong’s Tourism Industry 2.0.
” The initiative, which lays out a five-year plan to strengthen the sector, focuses on integrating innovation and digital tools to make Hong Kong a more attractive destination for global travelers. Tourism experts have emphasized the need for a single, integrated app to address the fragmented nature of the current digital offerings. Timothy Chui Ting-pong, executive director of the Hong Kong Tourism Association, pointed out that the current landscape of tourist-focused apps is disjointed, with separate platforms for weather, transportation, and payment information.
He suggested that an all-in-one app could centralize these features, providing tourists with real-time updates on transportation, bookings, weather, and more, all in one place. The Hong Kong Tourism Board currently lists 15 recommended apps for visitors on its website, such as “MyObservatory” for weather and “Octopus for Tourists” for cashless payments. However, Chui and others believe these options are insufficient to provide a seamless experience.
Lawmaker Michael Tien Puk-sun proposed integra.
