New Ways To Explore Greater Bay Area In One Journey For Gen Z

Hong Kong illustration at night (Unsplash)

JAKARTA - Greater Bay Area (GBA) is the largest bay area with the most rapid development in the world. This area connects Hong Kong, Macau, and nine cities in Guangdong: Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Zhongshan, Dongguan, Huizhou, Jiangmen, and Zhaoqing provinces.

For those of you who are interested in exploring these rows of areas, now they can be passed easily. Yes, more than half of Indonesia's population is dominated by Gen Z and Millennials, who always want to explore new destinations and experiences, this region also presents a unique combination of tradition and modernity, in addition to world-class entertainment choices.

Hong Kong presents a dynamic, historical-rich urban landscape, iconic views, as well as Muslim-friendly culinary delights. Macao offers a mix of Portuguese and Chinese culture, making it a recreation center and cultural exploration. Guangzhou is in accordance with its name a dynamic city with the fusion of captivating ancient temples, modern architectures, and a variety of lively markets, while Shenzhen presents a unique contrast between historic sites and the advancement of modern technology, thus inviting visitors to explore the transformative journey from the past to the present.

Through the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), in collaboration with the Department of Culture and Tourism of Guangdong Province and the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), officially launched the Greater Bay Area (GBA) campaign in Indonesia. This initiative aims to encourage Indonesian tourists to explore GBA in multi-destination holidays full of diverse and impressive tourism experiences.

Tourists can also enjoy world-class infrastructure such as high-speed trains connecting Hong Kong with Guangdong and the Hong Kong-Z roadhead Bridge which ensures unobstructed connectivity among 9 cities in Guangdong Province (Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Huizhou, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen, Zhaoqing) as well as 2 Special Administrative Regions Hong Kong and Macao (9+2 cities). This launch also introduces a comprehensive GBA tourism website, a variety of tour package programs, and a series of promotional activities, which will further increase the appeal of GBA to the Indonesian people.

Ms! Ip, Deputy Executive Director of Hong Kong Tourism Board, revealed that Hong Kong's strategic location and integrated connectivity have placed the city as the perfect gateway to GBA.

"By working with our partners in Guangdong and Macao, we are very pleased to be able to present the unique and diverse experiences GBA has to offer. Emphasizing Hong Kong's ongoing efforts as a Muslim-friendly destination, and various interesting hidden gems waiting to be found throughout the city, we believe that the GBA campaign will further inspire Indonesian tourists, especially Gen Z and Millennials, to discover their own unique experiences in exploring this area and creating unforgettable travel," he said through an official broadcast received by Voi.id.

Mr Chen Gui Jie, Inspector at Level 2, Department of Culture and Tourism of Guangdong Province, said Guangdong was very pleased to be part of the Greater Bay Area campaign as this campaign opened up new opportunities for us to further raise awareness of the rich cultural mix and the energetic modern nuances in our cities for Indonesian tourists.

"With comprehensive connectivity between Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao, multi-destination travel is easier and less obstacles for Indonesian tourists, especially for families, in exploring various cultural and tourist attractions that are friendly to families," said Mr Chen Gui Jie.

Deputy Director of Macao Government Tourism Office, Mr Cheng Wai Tong, said that the World Heritage "The Historical Center of Macao" and its status as UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomey is Macao's main attraction in tourism.

He hopes that this promotional event in Indonesia will further show the uniqueness of Eastern and Western culture as well as the extent of tourism +, as well as the attraction of Macao as a center of tourism and recreation in the world. He welcomes Indonesian and Southeast Asian tourists to take advantage of the convenience of multi-destination travel, which can bring them to feel the unique spirit, charm, and attractions of various cities throughout Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area in one trip.

Berikut kemudahan membilah GBA untuk para Gen Z.

As an international hub, Hong Kong is the ideal starting point for adventure in GBA. With world-class connectivity, tourists can easily start exploring the GBA region of Hong Kong, by utilizing a 144-hour visa-free transit policy that facilitates easier travel to cities in Mainland China that are included in GBA. This policy further increases its appeal in preparing multi-destination travel plans, so that tourists can experience the experiences offered by GBA.

As a complete solution for all things related to GBA, HKTB also launched an Indonesian-language microsite. Visitors can find attractions and experiences in 9+2 cities' that exist in GBA based on four main experiences, namely Local Culinary, 'Tultural & Cultural Heritage', Serious Entertainment Park', and Festival & Celebration. This website also provides curated travel plans and useful information about currency, payments, and transportation, etc.

Realizing the increasing interest of Indonesian tourists to travel to various destinations, HKTB has established strategic partnerships with ASTINDO, the association of leading travel agents in Indonesia, and Traveloka, a leading travel platform in Southeast Asia. This collaboration aims to expand the reach of the GBA campaign, offering Indonesian tourists easy access to travel packages and promotional offerings. This initiative was designed to make GBA the main tourist destination for the Indonesian people, providing them with comfort and added value.

GBA is committed to becoming a friendly destination for all tourists and becoming a Muslim-friendly destination. Throughout the GBA area, visitors will find a wide selection of Halal food, so that Muslim tourists can enjoy their journey without worrying about choosing food. This commitment to inclusiveness reflects GBA's dedication to providing diverse and accommodative travel experiences.

Not only that, Indonesian celebrities, Bastian Steel and Sitha Marino, were invited to visit Hong Kong, Macao, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen for the 'Celebrity on Vacation' travel program. They enjoyed the holidays while introducing to viewers cultural heritage sites and interesting attractions in each city. The program will be broadcast on YouTube, Indonesia's local TV channel and online media platform starting September 28. During the launch event, the two hosts also shared their visiting experiences and provided footage of the program.