How will the new Kai Tak Sports Park boost HK tourism and business?

The 28-hectare venue offers opportunities for tourism, business growth, and global recognition. 

Hong Kong's sports and entertainment landscape will transform with the opening of Kai Tak Sports Park in March, positioning the city as a premier destination for major events.

"This kind of sports park is extremely welcome in terms of the opportunities that it's throwing up. I think it's a question of bringing in bigger, better, and more frequent events," said Andrew Kinloch, Managing Director of Logie Group Limited.

Dan Voellm, CEO and Founder of AP Hospitality Advisors, emphasised the potential benefits for surrounding businesses. "Certainly, the new facilities at Kai Tak give an opportunity to diversify the events that Hong Kong caters to, both for locals but also for inbound tourists," he said.

Voellm highlighted opportunities for hotels, restaurants, and retail outlets to capitalise on the influx of event attendees. "We will have new vendors coming to the retail side, and existing businesses will also benefit."

Kinloch sees the sports park as a catalyst for tourism beyond the immediate area. "If we can encourage these people to come here in the first place, then stay a bit longer, then the benefits may be felt much more widely," he stated, adding that visitors could extend their stay to visit attractions such as Lantau, Disneyland, and Ocean Park.

The government’s role in promoting the venue will be critical. "The government has this major sports events committee that subsidises particular events that it nominates as mega, and it's going to be doing a lot of broad promotional activity as well to bring in the people," Kinloch explained.

Voellm emphasised the need for flexibility in event hosting policies to maximise the venue's potential. "One thing the government can probably do is also get a bit out of the way of events, give it a wider perch," he said, suggesting that Hong Kong should embrace new sports and concerts to remain competitive with regional rivals like Macau. "We have a very strong competitor in terms of hosting events not far from here, and it will take time to put our best foot forward."