To promote horse racing tourism and reinforce the city’s position as an international tourism hub, The Hong Kong Jockey Club (“the Club”) was pleased to support the Closing Ceremony of the 2025 World Tourism Cities Federation (“WTCF”) Hong Kong Fragrant Hills Tourism Summit (“Summit”) at Happy Valley Racecourse today (16 April).

With the theme “Innovative City Branding Elevates Tourism Excellence”, this year’s Summit was held from 14 to 17 April. It was the first time Hong Kong has co-hosted this prestigious gathering with the WTCF. The Summit brought together around 800 local and international guests from over 40 countries and more than 60 cities, offering a platform for them to exchange experiences, reinforce cooperation and build consensus on tourism development.

Attendees at the Closing Ceremony included Rosanna Law, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism of the HKSAR Government; Guo Huaigang, Secretary-General of the WTCF; Dr Peter Lam, Chairman of Hong Kong Tourism Board (“HKTB”); Michael Lee, Chairman of the Club; and Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, Chief Executive Officer of the Club.

Officiating at the Closing Ceremony, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law said that horse racing has been a cornerstone of Hong Kong’s cultural identity for over a century. It is a sport and so much more, with the Club further enriching racing with cultural experiences, culinary delights and entertainment. The Club is also crafting a series of distinctive and attractive tourism products and projects under the four “+ tourism” directions to showcase Hong Kong’s uniqueness and diversity in new and exciting ways. Indeed, this evening, Summit guests can enjoy the stunning scenery of Happy Valley Racecourse, which is an excellent example of “+ tourism” in action.

Guo Huaigang, Secretary-General of the WTCF, said the Summit had brought participants together to collaborate on tourism development, to explore collaborative opportunities, and to advance the growth of the industry. Over 100 travel agencies took part, holding more than 570 meetings and conducting an estimated RMB 200 million in business. The Summit also featured the release of the “2025 World Tourism Economic Trends Report” and the joint issuance of the “Hong Kong Initiative” involving over 60 cities. These achievements will undoubtedly promote deeper co-operation between the world’s tourism cities and elevate the development of the global tourism industry to new heights.

Michael Lee, Chairman of the Club, congratulated the hosts and organiser on the Summit’s success. Emphasising the unique experience of Hong Kong’s world-class horse racing, he highlighted that it not only attracts visitors from around the world but also enhances Hong Kong’s status as a global hub for cultural exchange and co-operation. The Club will continue to work closely with the HKSAR Government and HKTB to further develop the immense potential of horse racing tourism.

Horse racing tourism was mentioned in the HKSAR Chief Executive John Lee’s recent Policy Address and has been included in the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau’s Development Blueprint for Hong Kong’s Tourism Industry 2.0. The Club is committed to advancing the tourism sector by leveraging Hong Kong’s world-class racing and its international connectivity. Last month, the Club signed a Memorandum of Understanding with China Travel Service (Holdings) Hong Kong Limited to jointly promote horse racing tourism, cultural exchange and youth development between Hong Kong and the Mainland.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club

Founded in 1884, The Hong Kong Jockey Club (“the Club”) is a world-class racing club that acts continuously for the betterment of our society. The Club has a unique integrated business model, comprising racing and racecourse entertainment, a membership club, responsible sports wagering and lottery, and charities and community contribution. Through this model, the Club generates economic and social value for the community and supports the HKSAR Government in combatting illegal gambling. In 2023/24, the Club returned a total of HK$40.1 billion to the community. This included HK$29.9 billion to the HKSAR Government in duty, profits tax and Lotteries Fund contributions and HK$10.2 billion in approved charity donations.  The Club is Hong Kong’s largest single taxpayer and one of the city’s major employers. Its Charities Trust is one of the world’s leading charity donors.