SCST attends APEC Tourism Ministerial Meeting in Macao (with photos)
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The theme for the meeting this year is "Digital Innovation, Collaborative Empowerment: Leveraging Tourism for an Asia-Pacific Community". At a discussion session, Miss Law shared with other participants Hong Kong's strategic approach to integrating digital and intelligent technologies to drive economic growth in tourism.
In her address, Miss Law highlighted the city's remarkable recovery and strategic direction, noting that Hong Kong welcomed nearly 50 million visitors in 2025—a 12 per cent year-on-year increase—and hosted over 240 mega events, many of which were held at the Kai Tak Sports Park. She said these results reflect Hong Kong's strategic vision of "+ Tourism", which weaves together culture, heritage, arts, sports, and mega events to create richer and more immersive visitor experiences.
During the discussion session, Miss Law outlined a three-pronged strategy for harnessing technology to ensure sustainable growth:
1. Disseminating Smart Information
Hong Kong is leveraging big data and AI to provide travellers with real-time, personalised information. The Discover Hong Kong platform, managed by the Hong Kong Tourism Board, now offers live crowd updates and waiting times for major attractions during peak travel periods. The Government is also developing an AI-powered itinerary-planning feature on the platform and collaborating with map service providers to integrate data into a dedicated Hong Kong travel map, enabling visitors to plan their ideal trips in just a few clicks.
2. Nurturing Tourism Products with Smart Elements
Technology is being embedded into attractions to create authentic yet globally appealing experiences. From the new East Kowloon Cultural Centre, which incubates arts-tech performances, to the Hong Kong Museum of Art, which blends heritage with multimedia, and events like Art Basel Hong Kong featuring AI-generated avatars, these innovations deepen visitor engagement. Attractions such as Hong Kong Disneyland are also utilising advanced animatronics to enhance guest experiences. Miss Law added that when visitors connect in this way, they stay longer, spend more, and become storytellers who amplify the city's cultural identity.
3. Empowering the Tourism Trade
To ensure the widespread benefits of smart tourism, Hong Kong is committed to empowering its workforce. The Government has collaborated with Cyberport, the city's flagship IT hub, to connect technology providers with industry practitioners to solve real-world challenges through digital solutions, enhancing productivity and global competitiveness.
In her concluding remarks, Miss Law reminded delegates of the human element at the heart of travel. "Tourism does not thrive on technology alone, but also on the warmth of human connection. While AI can personalise journeys and digital tools enhance convenience, they can never replace the real local stories and human interactions that truly define travel. Let us use technology to enrich, rather than replace, the soul of our destinations. Let us work to ensure every visitor explores our cities, deeply, meaningfully, and memorably," she said.
Upon her arrival in Macao yesterday (June 26), Miss Law met with the Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mr Sun Yeli. After the meeting, she attended the welcome dinner for the 13th APEC Tourism Ministerial Meeting.
Miss Law returned to Hong Kong today following the meeting.
Ends/Saturday, June 27, 2026
Issued at HKT 17:20
Issued at HKT 17:20
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