FEATURE HONG KONG & MACAU
E
ven in the Far East, home to a seemingly limitless supply of pulse-raising holiday options, it’s still rare to find two choice
destinations in such close proximity to each other as Hong Kong and Macau. China’s two Special Administrative Regions are separated by just 40 miles of water, and the regular stream of passenger ferries crossing the Pearl River Delta means that getting from one to the other is as straightforward for visitors as it is speedy. It makes it all the more appealing then
that the pair offer differing experiences. While established favourite Hong Kong is a heaving metropolis known for its markets, its skyscrapers and its still- evident British influences, Macau is comparatively laid-back, although its Portugal-meets-the-Orient culture is complemented by a gleaming skyline of casino resorts. The lack of air access to Macau
means Hong Kong will almost certainly be the uppermost of the two in the minds of UK travellers, but with each passing year Macau’s own visitor
infrastructure is proving itself set for the long-term. Both destinations have sunny climates, excellent cuisine and some truly great hotels. Perhaps most convenient of all, their currencies are pegged – Hong Kong Dollars can be used in Macau, making budgeting for a twin-centre break a simple task. It still makes sense to give more itinerary space to Hong Kong – there’s just so much to do there – although it’s increasingly unarguable that a few days in Macau can add a huge amount to the overall trip experience. Its historical monuments have been well preserved, its outlying areas have some wonderfully sleepy villages and, for thrill-seekers, some of its entertainment spectacles now equal those in Las Vegas. The frequency of connections
between the two offers clients plenty of flexibility, while their location on the fringes of both mainland China and Southeast Asia makes longer, multi- centre trips an obvious possibility. And when Hong Kong’s major new cruise terminal is finally unveiled in around 2013, it looks set to have a significant impact on the regional cruise market.
WHAT’S NEW April sees the long-awaited opening of the International Commerce Centre – Hong Kong’s largest building at 485m in height – which will feature a public viewing platform as well as a new Ritz Carlton (set to occupy floors 102 to
118 of the tower, becoming the world’s tallest hotel in the process). Inaugurations in 2010 included Cosmo Kowloon Hotel and the 37-storey L’hotel Island South. Also being unveiled in April is the impressive- sounding Hotel ICON, a project from Hong Kong’s School of Hotel & Tourism Management and similar in concept to Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen restaurants. In Macau, meanwhile, the news is just
as impressive. The destination now has nearly 21,000 hotel rooms, more than half of which are five-star or five-star deluxe. New openings in 2010 included the Mandarin Oriental Macau, while 2011 welcomes Hotel Okura, Galaxy Hotel and, with floating villas, the Banyan Tree. All three will form part of the enormous
Galaxy Macau resort, which will also include the world’s largest ‘sky wave pool’ and 150m of white-sand beach. Also new is the House of Dancing Water, a widely acclaimed high-dive spectacular show City of Dreams, while later this year a £7m pavilion will play home to a pair of giant pandas.
TOURISM TALK SUE WHITEHEAD GENERAL MANAGER, MACAU GOVERNMENT TOURIST OFFICE, UK TOURIST OFFICE “Macau received nearly 25 million visitors last year, which was an increase of 15% over
2009. The UK was the number one market in the world in terms of length of stay – 4.15 nights – which reinforces the range of attractions on offer. Macau has increased its credentials as a global shopping destination. We work with the Hong Kong Tourism Board in a number of areas, including joint advertising and promotional campaigns, some of them with tour operator partners. In 2011, we’ll be launching a totally revamped interactive website and continuing to develop our Macau Specialist agent training scheme, including fams.”
DAWN PAGE DIRECTOR, UK & NORTHERN EUROPE, HONG KONG TOURISM BOARD “We don’t have confirmed full-year figures for 2010, but to November we were showing growth of 0.7%
over 2009, with 477,451 arrivals, and we’re expecting a strong end of year. 2011 will be challenging but we’re hoping to achieve a figure of more than 510,000. Hong Kong can be visited year-round. We are holding our annual Contact & Contract Event in London on March 7, when UK product and contract managers will have the opportunity to meet representatives of over 40 of Hong Kong’s leading hotels. We’ll also be at the PATA Exchange."
Macau's soaring skyscraperts (main picture) with a more traditional image of Hong Kong (below)
www.sellinglonghaul.com • March 2011 23
HKTB
MGTO
MGTO
BANYAN TREE
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