Hong Kong lawmakers have called for more efforts to boost the business ecosystem around Kai Tak Sports Park to encourage retail and restaurant spending in the area, with the Rugby Sevens set to move to the venue next month.
Perry Yiu Pak-leung, a legislator representing the tourism sector, also said on Saturday that most hotel bookings for the event, which runs from March 28 to 30, were for locations on Hong Kong Island.
He added that visitors were more used to that side of the city, even as the event moved from Hong Kong Stadium in Causeway Bay to the new venue in Kai Tak.
Yiu also noted that 80 per cent of tickets had been snapped up for the Hong Kong Sevens, but argued more efforts were needed to ensure spectators would benefit other businesses in the area.
“Kai Tak Sports Park itself has a lot of related complementary [promotions], and during the matches, there will also be a lot of outdoor activities,” he said, expecting the activities to bring more people to nearby Kowloon City and San Po Kong.
“It will take time for observation and integration of the whole economic ecosystem around Kai Tak Sports Park to happen.”
Yiu stressed that there should be no repeat of fans being asked to leave mid-match, which occurred during the World Grand Prix snooker tournament, especially since the Sevens was a high-profile event with a long history in Hong Kong.
