comparison tourism policies of singapore and hong kong
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Comparison Tourism Policies of Singapore and Hong KongTRANSCRIPT
A Comparison of National Tourism Policies
Why the reflection on tourism policies matters.
The main goal of tourism development is creating and enlarging competitiveness and
sustainability of destinations.
The government has an important role in terms of tourism development as it constitutes
the basic framework in which private tourism businesses can operate and shape
destination competitiveness.
The formulation of competitive tourism policies is the key to success for a destination as
it provides guidelines for balanced relations between public and private tourism initiatives.
In the cases of Singapore and Hong Kong, the necessity of good tourism policies to
enhance their competitiveness becomes obvious as new destinations like Cambodia and
Vietnam with their exotic Asian metropols entry the Asian tourism market.
(Wong et al. 2008)
Literature and Task.
Wong, E.P.V., Bauer, T.G., Wong, K.K.F. (2008): A critical comparison of tourism
policies of Hong Kong and Singapore. An Avenue to mutual learning. International
Journal of Tourism Research. 10 (3). pp. 193-206.
Discuss the findings of the article with regard to your findings and experiences
during your visit.
The article discusses the tourism policies of Hong Kong and Singapore that are
captured in the particular master plans.
The authors use qualitative interviews to detect the aspects of similarities and
differences of tourism political approaches.
To stimulate improvements in terms of competitiveness and sustainability for both
destinations, aspects are identified where one destination can learn from the other.
(Wong et al. 2008)
Summary of the Article
Comparable history as former British colonies that the similar features of “East
meets West” experiences in activities like shopping, dining, sightseeing.
Similar stage of development of the economies
• Tourist arrivals
• Good infrastructure (international airports, public transportation, tourism
related facilities like hotels & convention centers)
• Economic competitiveness
Appreciating und future oriented consideration of the tourism industry which
becomes obvious in long-term master plans
Tourism policy is seen as effective tool to manage economic and social issues.
Both Destination aim to enhance their competitiveness and want to become the
most important Asian city for leisure and business travellers.
(Wong et al. 2008)
Similarities of the destinations
Differences of the destinations
Different scope of vision
Different endowments of the business environments
Different appreciation of public private relationships
Different Scope of the Vision
Hong Kong
Expanding the Horizons
„Establish and promote Hong Kong as
Asia„s premier international city, a
world-class destination for leisure and
business visitors“
Singapore
Tourism 21 – Vision of a Tourism Capital
„Singapore does not only want to become
an attractive destination, but also a location
for tourism investments in and a vital link to
the Asia Pacific region“
(Wong et al. 2008)
The aim to get an attractive destination becomes clear.
• very non-specific formulation
• aspired scope is not mentioned
Detailed descirption of the scope
Singapore is striving for.
Different endowments
to the business environments
Hong Kong
Market-centered approach to tourism
development
Aspects that may detain investors:
• decreasing work force quality
• stagnant GDP grwoth
• budget deficits
• Decreasing political effectiveness
• Aspect of policy towards private enterprises
got lost
• No attractive incentives or tailor-made
support for international investors
• No transparency in decision making processes
Singapore
Encourage investments in Singapore to
develop new attractions and experiences
Aspects that may encourage investors:
• Strong fiscal position
• High quality of labour force
• Option to get tailor-made support in marketing
and HR training through the Tourism
Development Assistance Scheme (TDAS)
• Business Headquarters Program which awards
international companies that open up a regional
headquarter in Singapore e.g with tax incentives
(Wong et al. 2008)
Different appreciation
of public private relationships
Hong Kong
• Market-led governance
• The private sector has to make the first step
towards economic development.
• Laissez-faire policy
• Tendency to react.
Singapore
• Strategic pragmatism oriented governance
• Tourism development is public-sector driven
• Intervention of the government if market failured
become obvious.
• Dialogues between public and private sector are
appreciated
• Proactive approach
(Wong et al. 2008)
Catch a short glimpse
of my personal experiences.
• Not as clean as expected
• Very expensive (EUR 20 for a pre-mixed Singapore Sling)
• Many different cultures (languages heard, food)
• Good tourism infrastructure
• Everything seems to be restricted and limited
• Good service quality (e.g. JetStar openend a separate check-in gate at Changi
Airport when we were recognized as a group)
• It is easy to find your way through Singapore as English is an official language.
• First experiences of a tropical rain shower
My experiences in Singapore
• Colorful, busy, crowded
• Mr. Wong showed us what Asian hospitality is all about.
• Good public transportation system
• The Chinese culture is dominant whereas the culture of the former British colonialists
has disappeared virtually everywhere. e.g. you will hardly find a taxi driver that
understands english. You should always carry a piece of paper with you with your
destination in Chinese letters on it.
• Multiple traditional markets that offer a unique and cheap shopping experience e.g.
Ladies Market
• Disappointing experience at Hong Kong Disneyland
My experiences in Hong Kong
Lessons to learn.
Refering to the article and my personal experiences
Encourage entrepreneurship through educate the next generation of entrepreneurs
What can Singapore learn from Hong Kong?
Hong Kong Polytec, School of Hotel and Tourism Management & Hotel Icon
Encourage entrepreneurship through retiring restrictions and create an environment to
free the minds and to go beyond the existing
What can Singapore learn from Hong Kong?
Everything seems to be restrived in Singapore whereas Hong Kong is very liberal especially in terms of transportation modes.
The Chinese Market will become one of the internationally most important ones.
Due to Hong Kong being a SAR of China, it is well prepared for Chinese guests arriving
with their specific needs in terms of transportation & orientation, language, food and
willingness to spend money on shopping.
What can Singapore learn from Hong Kong?
But Singapore seems to be very aware of the Chinese market as the availablity of
Chinese guided tours at Singapore Night Safari and a special commercial of the STB for
the Chinese market indicate. Nevertheless there is space for further improvements.
What can Singapore learn from Hong Kong?
(STB 2012)
Proactive support of the the tourism industry and provision of subsidies
e.g. the retiring of the prohibition of gambling to attract the international hospitality
business Sands which builded the Marina Bay Sands that is nowadays one remarkable
landmark of Singapore offering high-quality hotel and convention facilities
What can Hong Kong learn from Singapore?
Visionary leadership of Singapore which makes the STB to think more like
a cooperation than like a governmental institution. Potential needs of the
future can be detected proactively.
What can Hong Kong learn from Singapore?
(STB 2012)
Visionary leadership of Singapore with the dedicated focus on the
customization of experiences to meet the human need of self-fulfillment.
What can Hong Kong learn from Singapore?
(STB 2012)
The individual that may be an
individual traveller or an
individual tourism business with
specific needs is in the center of
interest.
Knowledge and consideration of the markets of India and the ASEAN that are markets
with great potential in the future due to the increasing wealth of huge middle-classes in
these countries.
What can Hong Kong learn from Singapore?
(STB 2012)
Experiences of Singapore as tourism hub thanks to the Changi Airport with ist open
skies policy and a dense net of global destinations served as illustrated below.
Many tourists tend to plan a stop-over when traveling to long-haul destinations. Hong
Kong increase the profits of this travel behaviour by stronger consideration of the airport
as gate towards Hong Kong.
What can Hong Kong learn from Singapore?
(Star Alliance 2012)
Conclusion.
Hong Kong and Singapore are both destinations that provide breath-taking
experiences.
At first glance, they seem to be side very similar but when taking a closer
look the differences become obvious.
I consider Singapore as well-structured melting pot of Western and Asian
cultures that provides a wide range of different but high-quality tourism
products.
Hong Kong tends to be more vibrant which may derive from its bigger size
compared to Singapore. Hong Kong is dominated by the Chinese culture
and offers more divers tourism products and activities than Singapore.
Learn from each other but keep your uniqueness!
The approach of mutual learning possibilities in terms of the tourism
policies of Hong Kong and Singapore described in the article matches
with my personal experiences.
Nevertheless Singapore and Hong Kong should preserve their unique
character which is besides the establishment of competitive long-term
tourism policies a main part of destination competitiveness as well.
References & Picture Credits.
Pictures by Stefanie Dietrich and Daniela Aichner
Star Alliance (2012):Singapore Airlines Network
http://www.staralliance.com/assets/images/member-airlines/network/sq.jpg
STB (2012): Presentation about the Activities of STB. 22.10.2012
Wong, E.P.V., Bauer, T.G., Wong, K.K.F. (2008): A critical comparison of tourism policies
of Hong Kong and Singapore. An Avenue to mutual learning. International Journal of
Tourism Research. 10 (3). pp. 193-206.
A Comparison of National Tourism Policies