Hong Kong should develop medical and beauty tourism to meet the rising demand from mainland China. New research report on Mainland China – Hong Kong economic relations by Our Hong Kong Foundation.
Hong Kong should develop medical and beauty tourism to meet the rising demand for high-value products and services on Mainland China, a think tank has suggested.
The first research report on Mainland China – Hong Kong economic relations by Our Hong Kong Foundation pointed to the growth in urban population and household income on the Mainland, which will lead to increased mainlanders’ demand for high-value products and services.
Hong Kong should seize the opportunity to provide high – value services – including medical and beauty tourism.
Hong Kong has the potential to develop medical tourism, but lacks a sufficient supply of medical professionals in public hospitals. So medical services for foreign patients should be first focused in areas where there is surplus capacity, such as physical check-ups and follow-ups.
The report recommended that Hong Kong should develop its technologies-assisted beauty- care services, which the foundation believes will be the future trend.
Mainland China accounts for 73% share of Hong Kong’s export and import of services. One in two Mainland tourists visited Hong Kong through the Individual Visit Scheme. High-end tourism – such as medical and beauty-care tourism – can bring more economic benefits and impose less stress on the infrastructure.
Politician Kwok Ka-ki believes it is impractical for Hong Kong to develop medical tourism at this stage, “There are not enough beds, nurses or personnel in public hospitals. Government must address all supply problems in the sector before launching medical tourism, which will take up from 15 to 20 years.
The government has no strategy, marketing, law or policies on medical tourism. It promotes neither and has no plans to change that.
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