THE Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) will be featuring its many attractions including the Ocean Park, Hong Kong Disneyland, Ngong Ping 360 and international hotel brands at this year’s
ATM.
Earlier this year the tourism board held its first road show in the Middle East, attracting more than 60 tour operators and travel agents to the presentation, and it hopes to catch up with some of these again in Dubai.
Hong Kong is being marketed to the Middle East region as a leisure and family destination. HKTB director, northern Europe, Simon Mills said, “The Middle East is an emerging market and a good one for Hong Kong as we have 55 flights a week from this region,” he said.
This includes Cathay Pacific’s 24 flights a week out of Dubai and three flights a week to Bahrain.
“Hong Kong is quoted as the third safest city in the world. It is also multicultural offering a unique blend of cultures. The transport system is second to none,” said Mills. He said that more than 180,000 people from the Middle East visited the peninsular in 2008, out of a total of 29 million.
The HKTB has recently launched an Arabic version of its website www.discoverhongkong.com
Of interest to travellers on all classes will be the Plaza Premium Lounge, a VIP lounge open to all airport users. Headquartered in Hong Kong, the Plaza Premium Lounge management operates more than 39 locations in 12 international airports - Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, New Delhi, Hyderabad, Johore, Muscat, Vancouver and Toronto. The lounges are ISO 9001:2000 certified, and set in the international airport teminals, covering both arrivals and departures. All lounges features comfortable seating, television and soothing music, complimentary beverages, light snacks or a wholesome buffet spread, Wi-Fi, business services, attentive staff, and above all, peace and tranquility.
In Oman, the Plaza Premium Lounge at Muscat International Airport, is operated as a joint venture with Zahara Travel & Service Bureau. This sanctuary away from airport crowds is situated near Gate 6, international departures. See www.plaza-network.com for more details.