The Hong Kong Tourism Board hosted media and the Chinese-Canadian business community at New Year gala
The lunar new year is China’s biggest festivity and is celebrated all over the world. On 08FEB, in a sleek corner of Toronto, some 150 celebrants came together for an evening of dance, food, entertainment and updates from Hong Kong.
The venue? The chic Carlu event facility, famed for its art deco vibe and elegant atmosphere. We were there to celebrate the dawn of the Year of the Dragon.
It’s very appropriate that we are entering a Dragon lunar year, as it symbolizes growth, success, courage and resilience. (The Chinese zodiac has a cycle of 12 years, each with its own animal symbol.)
“Last year, Hong Kong hosted some 34 million visitors,” Michael Lim, Director, Americas for the Hong Kong Tourism Board – born in a rabbit year – told this reporter. Canadians often combine a visit to HKG mainland China, Japan, Thailand and even India with a visit to HKG.
“We are very happy that sports, culture and business events have all returned. There’s an action-packed calendar with 80 mega-events scheduled for the first six months alone of 2024,” he added. It’s worth noting that compact, bustling Hong Kong would fit five times into Prince Edward Island.
The Carlu event, co-hosted by HKG Tourism along with the Economic and Trade Office, showcased colourful entertainment including a dragon dance, a traditional art form that is today celebrated worldwide.
“Our goal,” Lim told the appreciative crowd, “Is to be one of the world’s best tourist destinations.” If the vibrancy and enthusiasm witnessed at the event is anything to go by, HKG is well on its way.
See more of spectacular, even surprising HKG here and learn more about tourism there at the tourism board’s site DiscoverHongKong.com.
And to find out what the next year holds for you based on your animal of the zodiac, here’s a sneak preview!
