Shanghai transforms to encourage Hong Kong tourism

In a bid to encourage tourism to Hong Kong, The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) is redecorating entire sections of Shanghai during the World Expo 2010.

To give prospective tourists a taste of what the city has to offer, the HKTB plans to transform Shanghai?s commercial district Xintiandi into a mini Hong Kong, while Huaihai Road Middle will be turned into a typical Hong Kong street.

Shanghai?s Metro Line 2 will also be changed to replicate Hong Kong?s Airport Express.

Visitors from the Chinese mainland account for the vast majority of Hong Kong?s tourism. Of the 13.7 million visitors to the Special Administrative Region, as of May 25, 8.5 million came from the mainland, an increase of 22.7 per cent for the same period last year.

And the HKTB is confident this trend will continue, predicting they will record a 33 per cent year-on-year rise for tourism from the Chinese mainland for June to August.

Leo Ni, public relations officer for the HKTB, told the Global Times last week that the transformations were only a part of Hong Kong?s efforts to attract visitors.

"Expo visitors can enjoy 100 yuan ($14.64) to 200 yuan discounts from Hong Kong tour packages when they present their Expo tickets at three major travel agencies, namely Shanghai China International Travel Service, Jinjiang Travel, and Shanghai China Travel Serivce," he said.