“In the coming three years, with the completion of the super bridge [Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge], we are expecting a 10 per cent growth every year in the number of tourists visiting Zhuhai,” said Zhong Guohuai, Director of the Zhuhai Tourism Development Centre, under the Culture Sports and Tourism Bureau.
Since the collaboration with the SARs a decade ago on developing multi-destination tourism, Zhong said Zhuhai has been given many more opportunities, such as the cooperation memorandum signed last Friday, under which the Macau-based travel agency Multinational Travel Group is planning to invest in the numerous islands off the coast of Zhuhai.
In addition, Zhong claimed that there will be 30 international-branded hotels to invest in Zhuhai in the coming three years, with 10 currently in the Chinese city.
According to the official data posted on the Zhuhai government’s website, a total of 637,000 foreign visitors visited Zhuhai in 2016, an increase of 6.2 per cent year-on-year, with the total amount of foreign exchange income from foreign tourists hitting US$1.05 billion (MOP8.41 billion), up 8.5 per cent from 2015.
In comparison to Macau and Hong Kong, Zhuhai is home to an assortment of islands, some 217 in total, according to the official Zhuhai government website. Together with the Chimelong International Ocean Tourist Resort with the world largest aquarium, these are features which make Zhuhai stand out regionally, said Zhong.
With their main focus on developing leisure tourism, Zhong indicated that “what we develop will match with the tourism products and services in Macau and Hong Kong”.
The Zhuhai official also revealed that the current development plans include MICE [Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions], as well as the free yacht scheme, recently launched in three ports in Zhuhai, with one port in Hengqin.
In order to attract more foreign tourists, Zhong said they have proposed to the national tourism bureau to further simplify procedures for foreign tourists to travel to Zhuhai.
Director of the Zhuhai Tourism Development Centre
Competition would pose no threat
Further abroad, the large-scale Jeju Shinhwa World, in Jeju, South Korea, is expected to open its doors in 2019, according to Tan Bee Ling, Vice President of Marketing of Landing Jeju Development Co., Ltd. The marketing VP noted that the development of gaming properties in nearby regions would not pose serious competition to their own casino.
“Competition is definitely there, but we are not withheld [by the situation] because if you look at tourism in Asia, especially for China, the number of the outbound market keeps growing and actually there is demand,” said Ms. Tan, while adding that the new project is created as a one-stop destination, where visitors can enjoy various services and entertainment.
Jeju Shinhwa World, set to be the biggest resort and theme park in South Korea, will feature 2,000 hotel rooms and venues for MICE, as well as a casino that will accommodate some 150 tables and 180 slot machines.
Despite political pressure for Chinese tourists not to visit South Korea, due to the installation of the THAAD missile defence system last year, Ms. Tan believes that “the situation is getting better” since the new president Moon Jae-in took on his role.
In addition, the marketing VP of the project said they are also aiming at both the domestic and international markets.
“To be very frank, Chinese tourists are one of our markets, but not all of our market because the domestic market is also important to us,” said Ms. Tan. “[The project] is actually something quite unique compared to other competitors, so we find ourselves not only attracting Chinese visitors but also those from around the world.”
