Tourism Opportunities for Sai Kung
Can Tourism be Sustainable?
Hong Kong Tourist Board calls Sai Kung the “Back Garden” of Hong Kong (a term we at Explore have never felt appropriate – a “back garden” is not often the most beautiful!).
It has often been referred to as the “Lungs of Hong Kong” but this term has also been attributed to the islands on the west side of the SAR.
Long-haul tourists who happen upon Sai Kung are constantly amazed at our proximity to the city, the open spaces and the wide range of outdoor activities virtually at our doorstep. It provides a perfect contrast to the hustle and bustle of the city – so famous for tall buildings, shrinking (but still beautiful) harbour and teaming streets and sidewalks.
Local tourists, enticed out to the fresh air and elbow room during the SARS scare are now, more than ever, enjoying the Sai Kung environment and crowding the roadways and town and villages on the weekends. Even mainland tour buses are beginning to crowd the roadways and tour guides are showing their charges the “other side of Hong Kong” bringing themout to the east side of the New Territories to view the wildlife and nature landscapes.
It is gratifying to see so many people appreciating the beauty and attributes of Sai Kung – whether it be tour buses from Guangdong or Kowloon – or hikers from Japan.
Local community leaders are literally “chomping at the bit” to identify ways to develop Sai Kung’s tourism potential, recognizing this as a key factor in economic development in the district.
Last fall, the Tourism Development Working Group (which falls under the jurisdiction of the Economic Development Committee of the District Council) recommended that a study be ndertaken to determine the Tourism Potential of Sai Kung District. The objectives were to analyze the opportunities, constraints and potential of sustainable tourism development in Sai Kung, to identify the uniqueness of the district for possible tourism positioning and promotion, and to prepare a sustainable tourism plan. All was to be carried out in close consultation with all stakeholders – including the public at large and all relevant government departments and agencies.
Sadly, the study is currently in limbo, pending the identification of funding for the consultancy. However, with opportunities at their doorstep, officials are continuing to look at new possibilities to bring a greater number of tourists out to the region and take advantage of our nature and cultural heritage.
In 2004, the Tourism Commission commissioned a study of the development of spa and resort facilities in Hong Kong.
The findings of Urbis Limited were positive – there is demand, resort products will likely increase the growth and range of visitors to Hong Kong, and Hong Kong is a safe and convenient place for visitors.
The Commission wants to use this to attract more “high end” tourists (especially business visitors taking a side trip or bringing along family members during their business trips) and the study conclusions supported this objective.
They also look at this as a means to develop green tourism in Hong Kong – by “looking into the ways of making sustainable use of the natural resources…e.g. opening up the
countryside and other scenic locations, using a combination of information, access,
signage and minor works programmes, where necessary. The sensitive and selective
introduction of resort developments could assist in realizing this potential.”
“Spas offering traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), and Medical/Clinical based spas
(comparable to the Swiss’s health and beauty treatments) are likely to be attractive to tourists throughout the year.”
Case studies were chosen – one of them was the former High Island Detention Centre. Through public consultation, it was decided that the High Island location was more suitable and would be less environmentally damaging than other locations in Lantau and the Soko Islands.
The consultants recommended that “a critical mass of accommodation and complementary facilities would be required to ensure financial viability – suggesting that this “usually amounts to 300 or more rooms” but some operators may prefer to offer boutique facilities for the niche market.
It is understood that local officials, seeing such a plan as a very positive step towards boosting tourism development in the district, have been visiting the recommended site at High Island (as well as others in the area) and discussing possible options for a spa resort with various industry players.
It is incumbent upon these officials and all who are in a position to approve development of new tourism infrastructure to ensure that this process is transparent, that the public at large is kept informed, that all stakeholders are consulted, and that the principals of sustainable development are adhered to ensure that all of Sai Kung’s assets (social, economic and environmental) are protected and positively enriched for the future.
