Selina Chow Liang Shuk-Yee, chairwoman of Hong Kong Tourism Board, said in a press release Sunday that Hong Kong is to launch a two-month "hospitality month" from Sunday, during which discounted air tickets and hotel charges will be offered to tourists.

She said during the two months, a large-sized lucky drawing activity will be held, in which tourists and Hong Kong residents can have the opportunity to take the lucky drawers by purchasing goods or having dinners at restaurants.

The board will provide 10 million Hong Kong dollars (US$1.28 million) worth of awards for the lucky drawers, in a bid to stimulate the local consumption.

In a signal to tell the world that Hong Kong is now a safe and good place to travel, Hong Kong is to host the International Cooperation for Tourism Development Under A New Paradigm conference on July 14 and 15, which is jointly sponsored by Boao Forum for Asia and the World Tourism Organization.

Chow said Hong Kong will choose a "hospitality day" in August, when a number of tourism professionals and media representatives will be invited to Hong Kong.

She said her board will arrange a series of tourism promotion activities from mid-July to the end of next March, in an effort to attract more overseas tourists.

Cooperating with local tourism sector and the local government, the tourism board is to hold shuttle tourism exhibitions in 28 major cities in various countries in the next few months.

Since the World Health Organization lifted the travel advisory against Hong Kong, which it issued in connection with the severe acute respiratory syndrome, on May 23, Hong Kong has arranged for over 500 tourism professionals and correspondents from a number of countries to experience a real and safe Hong Kong.

In the next few weeks, Hong Kong will continue to invite overseas tourism professionals and correspondents to visit Hong Kong, according to Chow.

She believed that the new plan will not only encourage more tourists to visit Hong Kong in a short term, but will also help revitalize HK's tourism industry and consolidate its status in the world tourism market.

(People's Daily July 14, 2003)