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It’s people who are actually curious

and wanna know a bit more about

either Hong Kong or the artists

the HKTB. Two of their tours were Tei. Both tours are two of the ap- something different,” she says. The
approved in the sixth and seventh proved products in the non-funded walking tours, in her opinion, are
rounds of the scheme in 2016 and section. “Tourists usually rely on of- unique experience that formulaic
2017 respectively. ficial travel websites for information,” travel routines cannot offer. “It’s not
Launched in 2012, the scheme Ho says. “So we try to get ourselves just people that wanna come and take
aims to boost Hong Kong’s tourism in- onto the list of the Tourism Board to the photo for Instagram,” she says. “It’s
dustry by offering unique and diverse get more exposure.” people who are actually curious and
travel experiences to tourists. Funded wanna know a bit more about either
applications will receive marketing Hong Kong arts stories Hong Kong or the artists.”
and promotion funding support for Suyin Haynes is a guide for Central Candy Hou, founder of Acciden-
developing new tour products, while Street Art Tour organised by Acciden- tal Art, is optimistic about the devel-
applicants in the non-funded section tal Art, which organises guided art opment of local cultural tourism. “I
will enjoy official promotion of their tours and other art related events. The think it will be more and more prom-
product on the “Explore Hong Kong Central Street Art Tour features street ising. Tourists nowadays value unique
Tours” promotion platform under arts by Alex Croft, Cleon Peterson, Fin experience more than shopping,” she
the HKTB. So far, the scheme has ap- Dac, Matt Gondek, Cath Love, Elsa says.
proved 39 products and attracted the Jean de Dieu, Rob Sketcherman and
participation of about 50,000 visitors. so on. As an expatriate from London, Unbalanced investment
“Our Childhood”, one of the she sees Hong Kong as an unusual city About 50 per cent of tourists said
theme-based tours offered by Ho, with different layers of culture and they were interested in famous tour-
features historic housing estates, and wishes to share her “version of Hong ist spots, but some expressed their
“Bloggers Playground” depicts the Kong” with other visitors. willingness to learn about other sides
nostalgic neighbourhood in Yau Ma “With each tour guide you get of Hong Kong, according to a report