Destination Review - Essay Example

The major features of the Hong Kong tourism sector are the implementation of the Quality Tourism Services (QTS) and the promotion of the community-wide hospitality culture, these two aspects should be described here in more details. The QTS is aiming at enhancing the standards of service among retailers working in the tourism sector and restaurants. 'The Scheme was strengthened in 2006 to include visitor accommodation in the scheme, aiming to provide visitors with better quality assurance and a more comprehensive and effective complaint handling mechanism'.

(Tourism Commission, 2007) The number of the outlets which have received the QTS certificates by the end of 2006 was about 6,000, which is the sign of the support and growing confidence of the visitors in the high quality of tourist service in the region. The government makes everything possible to promote sustainable development of the tourism branch in the region, which is achieved through the support and promotion of the community-wide hospitality culture. This program includes the series of activities, namely Hong Kong Young Ambassador Scheme, service quality seminars and other related campaigns.

(China National Tourism Administration, 2006) The Government has also financed the Service Quality Study which was finished in 2005 and was aimed to make the work within the tourism sector more efficient through directing efforts at agreeing activities among various departments and state bodies. One of the most highlighted tourism events in Hong Kong was opening of the Disneyland in 2005. This attraction has about ten thousand visitors a day. Other popular attractions include Victoria Peak, Ngong Ping 360, A Symphony of Lights.

The nature of tourism industryThe market of the tourism in Hong Kong displays permanent growth and was easily recovered from the negative consequences of SARS in 2003. (Go et al, 2004) The growth of this market is actively supported by the government, which is proved by the fact that the amount of state expenditures in 2005 was equal to 6% of the state budget, compared to only 4% in 2004. (Tourism Commission, 2007) The Government sees high level of importance in the developing of tourism and its main aims in supporting the market of tourism and expanding its market share are the following:the development of the tourism infrastructure, which includes development of hotels and improvements in the already existing networks; development of the tourism related infrastructure (roads, restaurants, transport, etc).

'The Governments of HKSAR and the Chinese mainland are working towards the construction of large-scale road and rail crossings, including the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Corridor (HK-SWC) and the Sheung Shui to Lok Ma Chau Spur Line; and also pursuing the advance work for the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link. The Sheung Shui to Lok Ma Chau Spur Line is also expected to open in the first half of 2007' (Wen Wei Po Daily, 2004) improving the quality of the industry; it should be born in mind that positive development of tourism is the pushing factor for better employment of the local population.

At present the share of tourism in the national GNP is 3.2% (after trade, logistics, financial services and other services), though this index is not very high, but