香港旅遊發展局 | |
Agency overview | |
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Headquarters | 9-11/F, Citicorp Centre, 18 Whitfield Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong |
Employees | 325 [1] |
Annual budget | HK$613.6m (2008–09) [2] |
Agency executives | |
Website | DiscoverHongKong.com |
Hong Kong Tourism Board | |||||||||||||||||||
Traditional Chinese | 香港經濟貿易辦事處 | ||||||||||||||||||
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Transcriptions | |
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Standard Mandarin | |
Hanyu Pinyin | Xiānggǎng Lǚyóu Fāzhǎnjú |
Wade–Giles | Hsiang-kang Lüyu Fachanchü |
Tongyong Pinyin | Siānggǎng Lyǔyóu Fājhǎnjyú |
Yale Romanization | Syānggǎng Lyǔyóu Fājǎnjyú |
Yue: Cantonese | |
Yale Romanization | heūng góng leuíh yaùh faat jín guhk |
Jyutping | hoeng1 gong2 leoi5 jau4 faat3 zin2 guk6 |
The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) (Traditional Chinese: 香港旅遊發展局) is a Government-subvented body founded in 2001. The Board replaced the Hong Kong Tourist Association (HKTA) (Traditional Chinese: 香港旅遊協會) established in 1957. It has 15 branch offices and 5 representative offices around the world, and its primary mission is to maximise the social and economic contribution that tourism makes to the community of Hong Kong, and consolidate the city's position as a desired destination. In fulfilling this, it works with the Government, travel industry and other partners to market and promote Hong Kong worldwide, improve the range and quality of visitor facilities and tourism service standards, and enhance the experiences of visitors once they have arrived.
Launched in November 1999, the Quality Tourism Services (QTS) Scheme (Traditional Chinese: 優質旅遊服務) is an accreditation programme aimed at promoting service excellence among local businesses and assisting customers to identify quality service providers. To qualify, merchant must fulfill stringent criteria and undergo annual assessment. All accredited merchants must display the gold and black QTS sign on their shop windows for recognition.
Initially, shops and restaurants were the only 2 categories covered by the QTS scheme. The scheme was extended to visitor accommodations and hair salons in November 2006 and March 2010 respectively.
As at March 2010, over 7,200 merchant outlets have been accredited under the QTS scheme. The QTS scheme is one of the most successful consumer protection programmes in Hong Kong. The Intellectual Property Department reported in 2008 that 4,700 outlets had joined its "No Fakes Pledge" – another well-known consumer protection programme in the territory.
After the launch of the QTS scheme, the use of membership badges bearing the iconic red junk logos of the former HKTA was discontinued in 2000. The HKTA membership badge was first introduced in 1965.
Starring famous Hong Kong actor/singer/producer Andy Lau, the 2003 commercial was inspired by Lau's 2002 blockbuster movie Infernal Affairs – a movie about an undercover cop and a bad cop working for the triads. The core message of the commercial is shops selling genuine goods and providing high standard service should set themselves apart from dishonest merchants by getting the QTS accreditation. The commercial has been aired from time to time till these days.