Hong Kong WinterFest is back in the West Kowloon Cultural District. Organised by the Hong Kong Tourism Board, it runs until New Year. It features a series of citywide events and experiences, live performances, festive menus, light displays, and more. The marine pyrotechnic display will light up the skyline for eight nights in December (9, 10, 16, 17, 23–26), including Christmas Eve and Christmas night. Christmas Town showcases the six-storey Christmas tree topped with a star that shines across Victoria Harbour. Ocean Park Hong Kong introduces a luminous adventure with Le Petit Prince. The French literary icon celebrates his 80th anniversary with light projections, and features the “Le Petit Prince Light Alley”. Harbour City Hong Kong has a collaboration between MEDICOM TOY and Disney in “Disney100 CHRISTMAS LOVE 2000% BE@RBRICK UP”. As part of Disney's 100th anniversary celebrations, 100 unique 2000% Disney-themed BE@RBRICK figurines will be on display. Also, Hong Kong Disneyland unveils “The World of Frozen” the world’s first and largest Frozen-themed land. This Christmas the AIA Carnival returns to Central Harbourfront from December 21, 2023, to February 25, 2024. A Hong Kong tradition, the carnival brings thrilling rides, games, and interactive installations, plus over one million plush toys. Visitors can enjoy street performances, food stalls, and live entertainment.

Hong Kong is easy to visit on your own as a first-time or return visitor. The must-visit places can be covered in one day, including a half-day walk around bustling Kowloon, on the southern tip of the China mainland (and maybe a short subway or taxi ride to Sham Shui Po).  Lunch on street food or at a Michelin Star restaurant and then jump on the famed Star Ferry for a quick ride over to Hong Kong Island and walk over for the cable car up Victoria Peak to view the skyline, Victoria Harboir, surrounding islands, and luxury residential areas.   Then check out Old Town Central and its numerous famed markets on foot and return to Kowloon by ferry or subway (reverse itinerary if your hotel is on Hong Kong Island). Due to slow car traffic, you are better off walking or taking their easy-to-use subway system. There is an array of stunning open-air experiences for hiking and cycling, to view and experience vintage Hong Kong, since 40% of the region's land is designated as country parks.   Tour guide Virginia Chan recommends offbeat (and off-the-beaten-track) tips to discover unique sides to Hong Kong, away from the crowds:   Hiking to Lion Rock, is the best way to escape the city The trail starts at Tsz Wan Kok Temple.   The 2.5-hour hike to Lion Rock offers amazing panoramic views over Kowloon, towards Victoria Harbour and Hong Kong Island.   Bike from Tai Po to Tai Mei Tuk Along the way, you'll pass by the Fung Yuen butterfly reserve as well as Tai Wong Yeh temple, built in the 18th Century. Most striking of all, however, is the huge 76m white statue of Guan Yin, the Buddhist goddess of mercy, at Tsz Shan Monastery. For this relatively easy ride, you can rent your bike and helmet near the start of the trail at Tai Po market, then return it at their shop near Tai Mei Tuk from where you walk into the village. See vintage Hong Kong: Lai Chi Wo Lai Chi Wo is one of the best-preserved Hakka walled villages in Hong Kong that sits within the 150 sq km Unesco Hong Kong Geopark in the northern New Territories region. The only way to get there is a two-hour hike or on a small, slow ferry that runs on weekends and public holidays. Whichever way you choose. Read the full article by Chris Dwyer on BBC ‘Virginia Chan's six offbeat experiences in Hong Kong’ here.

The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) has held its Hong Kong Tourism Overview 2023. More than 1,600 participants tuned in to discuss HKTB's tourism trends and strategic plans. They encompass travel agencies, attractions, hotels, airlines, MICE operators, cruise lines, and other travel businesses. With the theme "Striding Forward in a Steady Recovery", Dr Pang Yiu-kai, Chairman, HKTB said, "Hong Kong has returned to normal and is welcoming back global visitors.” “The Hong Kong tourism industry will recover progressively.” Dane Cheng, Executive Director, HKTB introduced HKTB's strategic focuses. HKTB will strengthen Hong Kong as an event capital. In addition, the HKTB will continue to develop Greater Bay Area tourism. Market strategies for 2023 include converting more visitors to overnight stays, and increasing the average stay in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong tourism is ready to say "Hello Hong Kong," to foreign travellers. The new campaign hopes to ramp up the tourism recovery with a host of travel incentives. The Hong Kong Tourism Board is offering a giveaway of 500,000 air tickets, and free visitor vouchers called ‘Hong Kong Goodies.’ Dr Pang Yiu-kai, Chairman of HKTB, said: "Hong Kong is back on the map for global travellers, we are extending a big welcome to the world.” The air tickets were bought during the pandemic to help keep local airlines afloat. The ‘Hello Hong Kong’ promotional campaign rolled out globally. It includes vibrant promotional content broadcast on 3,000 platforms worldwide. A series of videos will feature business leaders, social influencers and Hong Kong celebrities, including Cantopop legends Aaron Kwok, Sammi Cheng and Kelly Chen. The 500,000 air tickets will be given away to different markets in phases, through Cathay Pacific Airways, Hong Kong Express and Hong Kong Airlines, starting from March. In the US  and Canada, Cathay Pacific will be offering a limited number of discounted round-trip tickets to Hong Kong . At least one million "Hong Kong Goodies" visitor vouchers will be distributed, for participating bars, restaurants, and attractions. Hong Kong will host a year-round calendar of more than 250 events and festivals in 2023.

One of Hong Kong’s most iconic attractions is back on track. The Peak Tram, which travels up Victoria Peak, has reopened. It spent a year closed during Covid for a majorHK$799m revamp. It includes a redeveloped terminus and new tramcar interiors. Asia’s oldest funicular dates back to 1888. Before the pandemic it carried over six million riders annually. The return ticket price has increased nearly 70%. "I hope all visitors will feel it's worth the price," said May Tsang, general manager of tram operator the Peak Complex. "We have to consider the increase in our operating costs and the long-term sustainability of our business."  

Hong Kong is finally lifting its foreign tourist i ban for the first time in over two years. Hong Kong said it would allow visitors from May 1, easing some of the world’ strictest border controls. The surprise move came after certain venues like gyms, cinemas and theme parks were allowed to reopen. Mandatory hotel quarantine is one week, and was previously 21 days as part of its ongoing zero-Covid policy. The city welcomed about 56 million visitors a year before the pandemic.

The Hong Kong Tourism Board welcomed an additional HK$600 million on top of its regular funding to help boost tourism recovery efforts. The HKTB will also earmark HK$100 million from its reserves for marketing initiatives. The HKTB will continue to drive local tourism for supporting the trade and stimulating the local economy while gearing up for international travel resumption, starting with promotions in the Greater Bay Area (GBA) and other Mainland cities. When cross-boundary/border travel gradually resumes, the HKTB will launch various promotions to attract visitors. “The budget has specially allocated more resources for developing arts and culture and promoting cultural, heritage and green tourism projects. These initiatives not only help strengthen Hong Kong’s new positioning but also benefit the long-term development of the tourism industry tremendously,” HKTB Chairman Dr Y K Pang said. The HKTB always stands ready and remains agile in its work with consideration of the latest pandemic development, in order to drive the rapid recovery of the tourism industry.” The government also unveiled a three-year ‘Cultural and Heritage Sites Local Tour Incentive Scheme’, support for the ‘Green Lifestyle Local Tour Incentive Scheme’ and sponsoring training of tourism practitioners.