The Chinese enclave of Hong Kong is continuing to struggle with reviving its tourism industry in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic and the Beijing-led crackdown on civil liberties. In a renewed effort to boost tourism , the city is urging its residents to adopt a more courteous approach towards visitors. Unfriendly service staff at restaurants, once considered a quirky feature of Hong Kong, are now increasingly seen as a deterrent for tourists.
To address this, the city government has launched a new campaign to promote politeness. According to Kevin Yeung, the Secretary for Culture, Sports, and Tourism, a "handful of black sheep" have garnered negative attention for behaviour that "tarnishes our image." The tourism secretary announced a multi-departmental initiative aimed at transforming the city's reputation.
The Education Bureau will implement programmes to teach courtesy to students, while the Home Affairs Department will organise community activities to encourage friendliness, potentially offering rewards for "good performance." Yeung also mentioned that authorities will distribute a series of video clips urging residents to "go the extra mile" to enhance the city's hospitality. Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee supported the campaign during his regular press conference on Tuesday.
"I ask you all to take part, to enhance visitors' experiences," he said through an interpreter. "We should be more courteous, we should be more helpful, we should smile more, we should go.