27 Sept 2004 - Press Release
Business Environment Council hosts "Sustainable Tourism – Developing Hong Kong's Green Areas and Shorelines" Conference

Promotes community-based, natural and cultural heritage as Sustainable Tourism

The Business Environment Council (BEC) today hosted the fourth conference in EnviroSeries 2004 on "Sustainable Tourism – Developing Hong Kong’s Green Areas and Shorelines", attended by over a hundred of local and international experts and participants from various business, tourism industry organizations, Government and education sectors. The conference focused on identifying, developing, and promoting new tourism activities such as community-based, natural and cultural heritage tourism in Hong Kong whilst balancing the need for conservation and sustainable development.

"Hong Kong’s natural assets and cultural heritage are of tremendous value, a value which is not always appreciated by residents and visitors alike," said Mr Andrew Long, Chairman of Business Environment Council in the open address of the conference. "At the Business Environment Council, we intend to explore how we can meet the changing expectations of visitors to Hong Kong by offering value beyond a dining and retail experience, together with the business, industry associations and stakeholders concerned. Today’s Sustainable Tourism Conference appropriately considers the opportunities that are presented by sustainable tourism in island and country park based communities, in habitats managed for conservation and at sites of cultural or heritage interest."

In the keynote speech, Mr Niclas Svenningsen, Industry Officer of United Nations Environment Programme, Thailand, higlighted that a good environmental standard is a prerequisite for most tourism businesses. While Hong Kong is one of the major tourism destinations in Asia, local tourism stakeholders may wish to consider linking the needs and priorities of the Hong Kong citizens as well as promoting the tourism. He stated, "Improved access to the harbour and waterfront, increased efforts to remove threatened species from the menus of Hong Kong restaurants, and connection to tourism destinations outside HKSAR are a few examples of actions that could improve the tourism business in Hong Kong."

Heritage tourism development is one of the key agendas to maintain financial returns and attract overseas tourists initiated by HKSAR Government in recent years. Apart from the tender project of Marine Police Station site in Tsim Sha Tsui, the Government has recently announced the development of the Central Police Station Compound for tourism use. Mr Alexander Hui, Curator, Education of the University Museum and Art Gallery, who has helped the Hotung family to prepare the tender proposal to turn the Central Police Station Compound into a cultural venue run by a charitable foundation, pointed out that the project should be widely consulted to engage the community to determine its historic value and development direction prior to tender.

He added, "Local non-government organizations are skeptical of whether the historic buildings can be well preserved by private sectors riding on the commerce-oriented approach to run the project. The private sector may emphasize much on financial returns and the benefits of stakeholders whereas a charitable foundation will also care about heritage preservation apart from considering the financial aspect which helps such heritage tourism a sustainable development as well as benefiting the local community."

A few speakers also shared the idea of re-discovering our natural and cultural heritages, making use of our natural endowment to diversify our existing tourism industry, so that the local community can also enjoy the economic benefits. One of the advocates for Community-based tourism is Ms Sannie Chan, the Executive Director of the Green Peng Chau Association. She mentioned, their tourism initiatives began in 2001 and since then more than 100 ecotours have been arranged.

She stated, "Our long-term goal of is to foster a sustainable social and economic growth for Peng Chau through the Sustainable Community Development Project that launches tourism initiatives like ecotourism, organic farming and green market. Moreover we believe economic gains from conducting ecotourism can improve the economy of Peng Chau, hence inducing the government and the local people in better protecting and conserving the natural and historical resources of Peng Chau."

In recent year, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department of HKSAR has put much efforts on ecological conservation and diversification of tourism attractions. To raise the public concern and educate the public on natural heritage and wildlife, the department has built the Hong Kong Wetland Park in northern Tin Shui Wai. Phase 1 was opened to the public since December 2000. Mr Edmond Lam, Senior Wetland Park Officer of department, noted that the Phase 1 has attracted over 100,000 visitors every year. After the completion of the Phase 2 by the end of 2005 or early 2006, he expected the annual visiting crowd will reach 540,000 among which approximately 30% are overseas tourists.

Dr Andrew Thomson, Chief Executive Officer of BEC in his closing remarks concluded, "We are pleased to take a leading role of engaging our community, business, government and education sectors the uptake of environmentally and socially responsible practices in the areas of community-based, natural and cultural heritage tourism in Hong Kong whilst balancing the need for conservation and sustainable development. Moving forward, Hong Kong needs to diversify its tourist offering and incorporate the green areas and shorelines into consideration to make our tourism industry even more sustainable and competitive."

About Business Environment Council ( www.bec.org.hk )

The Business Environment Council Limited takes a leading role in communicating with and educating the business sector, serves as a voice for business on issues related to the environment and sustainable development, fosters meaningful partnerships, locally, regionally and internationally, facilitates the sharing of best practices, and transfer of technologies and innovative solutions, and provides advice and support for business, in particular those small and medium sized enterprises.

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Estrid Wai, Communications and Marketing Manager, T. 2784 3922