Editorial | Hong Kong’s luxury yacht tourism needs wind in its sails
Hong Kong should build more berths and develop services to attract the vessels and their well-heeled and high-spending passengers
Hong Kong’s identity is inseparable from the sea. The image of the city most familiar around the world is that of the harbour, overlooked by skyscrapers. But Hong Kong also boasts an extensive coastline, numerous islands and a rich maritime history.
These assets, combined with all that a cosmopolitan city has to offer, should make it an attractive destination for luxury yachts. But this high-end form of tourism is woefully underdeveloped.
Now, as Hong Kong aims to become a premier tourist destination, seeking innovative ways to appeal to visitors while making the best use of its natural resources, the development of “yacht tourism” is on the agenda.
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu, announced plans in his policy address to expand three sites to provide berths for luxury vessels: Aberdeen Typhoon Shelter, the former Lamma quarry site, and the waterfront near Hung Hom station.
The creation of more berths for such boats is urgently needed. There is a chronic shortage, with nowhere near enough even for locally registered vessels.
The number of auxiliary powered yachts, cruisers and open cruisers registered in the city has risen from 10,296 in 2019 to 12,553 at the end of last year.
