An up-and-coming arts district by the waterfront. A new waterpark featuring heart-thumping slides and rides. A beloved tram that has undergone a lovely facelift.

All these are just some of the new and refreshed experiences that await travellers when they next visit the city, unveiled executives of the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) at a media briefing in Bangkok.

Despite the city's prolonged border closure, HKTB wants travellers to know that a fresh crop of new experiences have been rolled out in Hong Kong over the past three years.

"There've been lots of new developments in Hong Kong," said HKTB's regional director for Southeast Asia, Raymond Chan, speaking during a media event in Bangkok, among the Southeast Asian cities the NTO is now visiting as part of its promotional outreach efforts.

HKTB's Raymond Chan giving the latest destination updates in Bangkok. Photo Credit: Xinyi Liang-Pholsena

"Hong Kong has many treasures still waiting to be discovered, and can cater to visitor's needs in various angles. The goal is to provide inspiration and to update the list if new travel destinations for travellers who await the day they can return to Hong Kong."

HKTB has launched the new '360 Hong Kong Moments: New Adventures at Every Turn' campaign to retain Hong Kong as a "top of mind destination" for travellers.

New attractions in Hong Kong for 2022 and beyond

Arts & culture
A new arts hub has blossomed in Hong Kong since 2019, when the West Kowloon Cultural District was launched. Since then, the thriving arts-dedicated neighbourhood has welcomed high-profile debuts on the Victoria Harbour Waterfront, including M+, Asia's first museum of contemporary visual art, and the Hong Kong Palace Museum, a 7,800sqm space with over 900 Chinese artefacts displayed in collaboration with the Forbidden Palace in Beijing.

Shop, dine & stay
In a city renowned for its retail and F&B offerings, new entrants continue to keep the shopping and dining scene buzzing. Dining highlights include JaJa, a photogenic restaurant in Wanchai offering creative vegan dishes; Penicillin, a eco-conscious cocktail bar which focuses on zero waste dining; and The Hideout @ Mui Wo, a restaurant that spotlights the farm-to-table concept alongside views of the Lamma Island.

JaJa is a new photogenic restaurant in Wanchai offering creative vegan dishes.

On the shopping front, K11 Musea has debuted as an upscale art mall on Victoria Harbour, while the Central Market – Hong Kong's oldest fresh market established in 1842 – now bears a contemporary vibe after its recent revamp.

A notable addition to the city's accommodation sector is the Fullerton Ocean Park Hotel Hong Kong, which soft-opened in July. The first Fullerton hotel in Hong Kong puts guests at the doorstep of the Water World Ocean Park next door.

Explore & play
The Water World Ocean Park is a splashing new addition to Hong Kong's leisure destinations, offering 27 thrilling rides in five zones, which has also been certified safe for autistic individuals to enjoy. Meanwhile, existing attractions such as the iconic Peak Tram now bears a new look in its sixth reiteration – offering greater capacity and better vistas – whereas Hong Kong Disneyland has introduced the new Castle of Magical Dreams and 'Momentous' light and sound show to mark its 15th anniversary in 2020.

Great outdoors
Beyond Hong Kong's urban downtown areas, there are many great outdoor experiences for visitors. Sai Kung, apart from its seafood and outdoor activities, is home to the volcanic rocks which have earned it Hong Kong UNESCO Geopark status. There's also Cheung Chau Island, a dumbbell-shaped island now brimming with chic cafes and a wide array of water activities.

Hong Kong's iconic Peak Tram has reopened with a new look.

Southeast Asia a vital market

Amid the prolonged closure of China, previously the top visitor source market for Hong Kong, Chan stressed that Southeast Asia remains "an important market" for HKTB.

In 2019, Hong Kong welcomed more than 3.1 million visitors from Southeast Asia. Thailand, for instance, sent over 550,000 visitors in 2019 and was one of the highest-spending markets.

Life in Hong Kong is "back to normal" for locals, while many social distancing measures have been eased although masks are still required for many venues. As well, Hong Kong has cut the mandatory hotel quarantine for overseas arrivals from one week to three days.

Looking ahead, Chan said Hong Kong is also gearing up for its comeback with a series of promotions, which will be launched once the borders reopen.

As for the million-dollar question as to when Hong Kong will reopen, Chan said "there is no timeline" but remains hopeful that it would be "very, very soon".