Hong Kong Tourism Board launches ‘online + offline’ Chinese New Year promotions
WITH the traditional international Chinese New Year Night Parade canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Hong Kong Tourism Board turns to innovative promotional programs on “online + offline” format held from February 8 to 26.
The three-week “Fortunes at Home” Chinese New Year (CNY) campaign promotional campaign featured a creative online market, CNY delicacies and specialties, along with plentiful contents, including games, lucky feng shui tips and festive e-cards, as well as special offers by the catering and the retail sectors.
“The Hong Kong Tourism Board launched ‘Holiday at Home’ as a local promotional platform in the middle of last year, with an aim to boost local consumption. With this promotional platform, we have moved some mega events online and added offline elements for flexible promotions in response to development of the epidemic,” said Dane Cheng, Executive Director of the HKTB. “As far as this year’s CNY campaign is concerned, we will take the traditions online and infuse them with innovative elements, sending the public our festive blessings in a whole new fashion.”
HKTB also recently held a virtual tour for international media around the city so they can experience an authentic celebration of Chinese New Year right at the comfort of their homes.
The virtual tour started with a visit on the largest Man Mo Temple in Hong Kong, a tribute to the God of Literature (Man) and the God of War (Mo). On Chinese New Year, parents bring their children here to receive extra blessings for their academic goals. Next was the Wong Tai Sin Temple, where thousands of believers queue up outside the temple for the opportunity to make the first incense offering at midnight. It is their belief that wishgranting is on a first-come, firstserved basis on this holy ground. Then the tour made a stop at the Che Kung Temple where visitors come to improve their luck by spinning the wheel of fortune for the year.
This was followed by a quick stop at Upper Lascar Row, where feng shui master Thierry Chow showed where to shop for chic decorations that can help enhance your fortune in the Year of the Ox. The area is also known for its row of antique stores, offering an eclectic collection of Chinese calligraphy, art and vintage furniture.
The tour also included a visit at the Flower Market where Hong Kong people pay a visit to buy auspicious plants as part of their Chinese New Year celebration.