HKTA DISAPPOINTED AT HONG KONG’S UNSUCCESSFUL BID TO HOST ASIAN GAMES

The Olympics Council of Asia (OCA) at its annual meeting at Pusan, South Korea, today (12 November) announced that Doha would be the host city for the 2006 Asian Games. The Hong Kong Tourist Association (HKTA) was disappointed at the news that Hong Kong was unsuccessful in its bid to host the 2006 Asian Games.

HKTA Chairman The Hon Mrs Selina Chow, JP said that although unsuccessful in its bid to host the 2006 Asian Games, comprehensive media coverage during the bidding process increased Hong Kong’s international exposure.

“The process did much to showcase Hong Kong as an international city with comprehensive sports and supporting facilities and an ability to attract major world-class sports events,” she said. “The HKTA believes that apart from hosting major sports events, Hong Kong, with its excellent range of facilities, would continue to attract different types of events. We will further promote Hong Kong as the events capital of Asia to encourage more overseas organisers to stage their events here.”

The HKTA is confident that with the completion of Hong Kong Disneyland and other tourism infrastructure and on-going improvements to existing facilities, Hong Kong will continue to be the most popular single destination in Asia.