HKTB Promotional Video to Debut on TV to Spread the Giant Panda Frenzy Adorable National Treasure to Exchanges Blows with Homegrown World Fencing Champion

An An and Ke Ke, the giant pandas gifted to Hong Kong by the Central Government, have started greeting the public, and we can visit Ying Ying and Le Le’s newborn twins early next year as planned. Riding on the giant panda enthusiasm, the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau (CSTB), the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) and Ocean Park Hong Kong are jointly presenting a series of giant panda promotions, themed “Come and enjoy a ‘Pandastic’ Hong Kong”, to hype up the giant panda frenzy in town.

Produced by HKTB, a new TV promotional video will debut tomorrow (21 December) on various TV channels. The giant panda family will take on a new role as Hong Kong’s tourism ambassadors, taking viewers on a journey full of authentic Hong Kong experiences to encourage locals to invite their friends to the city to explore its sights and visit the giant pandas. The video will also feature homegrown fencing world champion Edgar Cheung, who will exchange blows with our national treasure.

Giant pandas to showcase unique Hong Kong tourism experiences as Hong Kong’s tourism ambassadors and show off their fencing skills with an Olympic gold medallist

The video will be aired on various local broadcasters starting tomorrow night (21 December). The six lovely giant pandas will take on their new role as Hong Kong’s tourism ambassadors and introduce the city’s unique tourism experiences, including tasting local dishes and milk tea, enjoying fine dining at award-winning restaurants, paragliding in Hong Kong’s great outdoors, exploring world-class museums and art galleries, and checking in at Kai Tak Sports Park for exciting mega-event experiences. Edgar Cheung, two-time Olympic gold medallist, who tops the ranking of the International Fencing Federation, will also appear in the video and exchange exciting blows with the cute giant panda. The aim of the video is to attract visitors from around the world to visit Hong Kong and encourage the local public to invite their friends to explore the city and see the six giant pandas.

Watch the TV promotional video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zubtt2G7tos

MTR stations furnished with new giant panda decor will send a vibrant welcome to the new family members

The Admiralty, Hong Kong and Ocean Park MTR stations and the trains on the South Island Line, High Speed Rail and Airport Express will also be furnished with giant panda-themed decorations. In addition to the panda decor, 3D giant panda animations and livestreams of the giant pandas’ life will be shown in the Admiralty and Hong Kong stations, respectively. Three daily livestream sessions of the pandas' lives will be broadcast for half an hour each, while the rest of the time will feature the HKTB-produced TV promotional video, precious moments in the lives of the six pandas and highlights of the city's events.

First drone show with pyrotechnics in Hong Kong Themed around the giant pandas and popular Hong Kong landmarks 

The public can also look up and spot the giant pandas beyond the TV set! CSTB and HKTB will give their full support to the PANDA GO! FEST HK drone show with pyrotechnics, organised by creative brand AllRightsReserved (ARR), on 28 December (Saturday). The show will be staged at 8:15pm at the harbourside of the West Kowloon Cultural District. This will be the first time a pyrotechnic display and a drone show will be staged together in Hong Kong. The brightly lit drone patterns of giant pandas will come into life with the glittering falls and fireworks, combining different local landmarks and elements to showcase a unique Hong Kong vibe.

City-wide cuteness overload

	PFF HK (Mock-up Photo)

The “Panda Friends & Family Hong Kong” (PFF HK) is set to add a heart-warming touch to the city as they explore the vibrant streets in town! From the Central Piers and Mid-Levels Escalator to outdoor billboards, the giant panda will be seen all around town greeting the public. You will also be able to spot them on giant 3D outdoor displays in Tsim Sha Tsui, Causeway Bay and other tourism hotspots from January next year.

HKTB “Come and enjoy a ‘Pandastic’ Hong Kong” website: https://www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/what-s-new/panda.html

Non-Mainland Arrivals in November Exceed a Million and Set a New Single-Month Record since Travel Resumption

HKTB announced that provisional visitor arrivals for November reached 3.57 million, an increase of 8% year on year. Non-Mainland visitors accounted for more than 1 million of the total, which is a single-month record since travel fully resumed in Hong Kong and is equivalent to a year-on-year increase of about 20%. Arrivals from the Philippines continued to show robust growth momentum and the cumulative result of the first 11 months has already exceeded the full-year figures before the pandemic（2018）.

Hong Kong welcomed about 40.25 million visitors from January to November cumulatively this year, a 34% year-on-year increase. About half the visitors stayed overnight.

Provisional visitor arrivals in November 2024

Note: Because of rounding, the total may differ from the sum of the individual figures.

*Includes figures from long-haul, short-haul and new markets, as well as the Macao SAR.

(Full details of November 2024 visitor arrivals will be released on 31 December.)

HKTB believes that with the “Hong Kong WinterFest” and the “Hong Kong New Year Countdown Celebrations” being held in December and the resumption and expansion of the Multiple-Entry Individual Visit Endorsement for Shenzhen residents, as well as a series of city-wide promotions on Hong Kong’s giant pandas, more visitors will come to Hong Kong and experience the city’s exciting winter festivities.