HKTB Signs Up ‘Hong Kong Super Fans’ Worldwide to Promote City and Drive Tourism Recovery

Post Date: 10 Feb 2021
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Art gallery owner and former French prime minister’s son Arthur de Villepin has travelled all over the world but loves Hong Kong so much he made it his home. “Hong Kong has one of the strongest art scenes in Asia with so many art fairs and amazing international-standard galleries,” he explained. “I want to invite my friends from France to come to Hong Kong and enjoy its unique vibe.”

 

Arthur, who was born in the US and lived in India and the UK before moving to Hong Kong and founding the Villepin Art Gallery, has been invited by the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) as one of the Hong Kong Super Fans, who will encourage their friends, families, and followers to visit the city when travel resumes.

 

As well as expatriates living in Hong Kong, the HKTB is inviting friends and fans of Hong Kong through its worldwide offices in 20 key source markets to become Hong Kong Super Fans. As of today, the group includes Korean fashion designer Nikki Lee, Thai actress Nok Sikrin (“Nokky”) and Mainland influencer Cocoa Zhou, who live in the city, and other distinguished fans living in Asia, Australasia, Europe, and the Americas, all of these 220 fans share a common passion for Hong Kong’s timeless appeal and diverse attractions.

 

HKTB Executive Director Mr Dane Cheng said: “The Hong Kong Super Fans programme is an important and integral element of the HKTB’s tourism recovery plan. We expect that the first batch of visitors to return will be those who have an enduring love for Hong Kong and people with connections to the city. We hope the social influence and heartfelt passion of these fans in Hong Kong, the Mainland, and overseas markets will spread positive word-of-mouth endorsement, encouraging visitors from markets worldwide to head to Hong Kong as soon as cross-border travel resumes.”

 

A series of online events is being organised by the HKTB so that Hong Kong Super Fans can share tips on the city’s delicacies, arts, culture, and natural scenery with friends and followers. The first is a Chinese New Year Virtual Tour, giving worldwide audiences a glimpse of how Hong Kong people celebrate the lunar new year.

 

The virtual tour will visit the Man Mo Temple in Central, a feng shui décor store in Lascar Row, a fai chun stand in Shin Hing Street, and a traditional candied fruit grocery store, allowing participants to immerse themselves in traditional new year customs.


Further virtual tours will be arranged with invitations extended to media representatives in the Mainland, Southeast Asia, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia, Europe, and the Americas.

 

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HKTB Executive Director Mr Dane Cheng shows his calligraphy skills in a Chinese New Year Virtual Tour, sending his best wishes to Hong Kong Super Fans from around the world for their first online event.

 

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Hong Kong Super Fans living in the city act as hosts in the Chinese New Year Virtual Tour, taking online participants through the streets and explaining Hong Kong’s traditions and customs in the biggest festival of the Chinese calendar.

 

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Arthur de Villepin, founder of the Villepin Art Gallery, is one of the Hong Kong Super Fans.Playing a role as an ambassador of arts, he will contribute his expertise and passion for the city in the campaign to connect with other art-loving Super Fans to join local cultural events and share their experience in Hong Kong.

 

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Korean fashion designer Ms Nikki Lee (left), Thai actress Ms Nok Sikrin (centre), and Mainland influencer Ms Cocoa Zhou are resident Hong Kong Super Fans who will promote the city to their friends, families, and followers.

 

Nikki has lived in Hong Kong for 10 years and believes it is one of the most dynamic cities in the world. “Many of my Korean friends long to visit Hong Kong after the pandemic, and want me to take them to try local food or go hiking,” she said. “I will recommend Hong Kong’s beaches to them, and suggest them to try barbequing Hong Kong-style.”

 

Nokky says Hong Kong has a diverse appeal with world-class shopping and dining alongside beautiful natural scenery. “I can’t wait for my friends and family to join me and explore Hong Kong after the pandemic,” she said.

 

Cocoa regards Hong Kong as her second home: “Usually visitors from the Mainland come to Hong Kong for shopping, but I hope I can show them the hidden gems of Hong Kong and help them discover other aspects of the city,” she said.

 

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CNY Virtual tour video can be downloaded from below link: https://hktb.filecamp.com/s/7WEk95aQiWdDDKIU/fo

 

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