HKJC and JRA support tourism development in Hong Kong and Japan

The Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) and the Japan Racing Association (JRA) are pleased to announce their support for Hong Kong-Japan Tourism Exchange Year 2009 - a two-way tourism promotion driven by the HKSAR and Japan governments - through a series of tourism programmes tied into two world class International Group One races: Japan's Yasuda Kinen in June, and the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Races in December.

The Yasuda Kinen (G1, 1600m) will take place at Tokyo Racecourse on Sunday 7 June, and two Hong Kong-based horses, Armada and Sight Winner, are already beginning their final preparations for the race after flying into Japan last Wednesday. On the same racecard that day, the JRA will designate Race 9 as "The Hong Kong Jockey Club Trophy - Hong Kong Japan Tourism Exchange Year 2009".

In turn, the HKJC will host "The Japan Racing Association Trophy - Hong Kong Japan Tourism Exchange Year 2009" as part of the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Races meeting at Sha Tin on 13 December this year, the flagship event in the Hong Kong racing calendar sponsored by the world-class airlines, Cathay Pacific.

The HKJC's Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges said he was very happy to give the Club's support to Hong Kong-Japan Tourism Exchange Year 2009, as the sport of racing had played an increasingly important role in promoting the tourism industry in both Japan and Hong Kong in recent years, bringing a positive impact to both economies.

"The Hong Kong-Japan Tourism Exchange Year 2009 offers the JRA and HKJC a great chance to co-operate further in promoting tourism as racecourses in Japan and Hong Kong, which rank among the best in the world, have become great attractions for tourists, along with the world-class sport they offer," he said.

"Top international racing events like the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Races, Audemars Piguet Queen Elizabeth II Cup and Champions Mile in Hong Kong, along with the Japan Cup, Yasuda Kinen and Sprinters Stakes in Japan, all attract thousands of overseas visitors every year," Mr Engelbrecht-Bresges added. "I hope racing will continue to serve as a valuable medium for fostering tourism development in the years to come."

Dr Kenji Tsuchikawa, President and CEO of the Japan Racing Association, said he was also excited by the co-operation agreement.

"Today I am very delighted to announce that the Hong Kong Jockey Club and the Japan Racing Association, which are key members of the Asian Racing Federation, will work together to support the Hong Kong-Japan Tourism Exchange Year 2009, a significant tourism project between Hong Kong and Japan. We heartily look forward to welcoming racing fans to Tokyo Racecourse to cheer for the selected Hong Kong runners for the 59th Yasuda Kinen, the final leg of the Asian Mile Challenge," Dr Tsuchikawa said.

Yoshiaki Hompo, Commissioner of the Japan Tourism Agency, also looked forward to seeing this two-way tourism exchange between Japan and Hong Kong.

"The commemorative race in Japan - The Hong Kong Jockey Club Trophy - Hong Kong-Japan Tourism Exchange Year 2009 - will be held in June, on the same day as the Yasuda Kinen race in which Hong Kong horses run. I do hope that many Hong Kong people will visit Japan to attend these races.

"Further, on the commemorative race day in Hong Kong in December, special promotion on Japan's tourism attractiveness and horse racing will be held. I hope many Hong Kong people will see and feel the attractiveness of Japan on this occasion and that this will be an incentive to visit Japan," he said.

Mr Tadatoshi Mamiya, President of the Japan National Tourism Organization, also acknowledged that racing helps boosting tourism development, attracting extra number of visitors from the overseas.

"As for us, the Japan National Tourism Organization, we are aiming at attracting more foreign visitors to Japan and enhance the development of tourism exchange between Japan and Hong Kong, not only in the field of horse racing, but the entire tourism industry," Mr Mamiya said.

On the Yasuda Kinen raceday, the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) will set up a Hong Kong Booth inside the racecourse to promote Hong Kong tourism and local scenic spots to the Japanese public. Mr Anthony Lau, HKTB's Executive Director, said that the Board was grateful to both the Hong Kong Jockey Club and the Japan Racing Association for organising races to support the Hong Kong-Japan Tourism Exchange Year.

"Horseracing is a unique and exciting activity that offers visitors a great experience," he remarked. "As key events during the Tourism Exchange Year, the races will certainly help encourage two-way tourism exchange between Hong Kong and Japan. To take advantage of these opportunities, the HKTB will enhance awareness of Hong Kong among Japanese travellers by proactively promoting our city during the events and by marketing thematic Hong Kong tour packages with our travel-trade partners."

The HKTB's booth will also feature a racing section, highlighting Hong Kong's upcoming flagship international racing event - the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Races on 13 December. Japanese racing fans can collect special postcards there featuring top Japanese runners and Hong Kong International Race winners like Hat Trick, Eishin Preston, Stay Gold and Agnes Digital. Hello Kitty, the "Visit Japan Campaign Friendship Ambassador", will also be at Tokyo Racecourse to cheer the two Hong Kong contenders in the Yasuda Kinen.

* Related websites
Hong Kong Jockey Club
Japan Racing Association
Hong Kong-Japan Tourism Exchange Year 2009

Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office Tokyo
Hong Kong Tourism Board
Japan Tourism Agency
Japan National Tourism Organization
Visit Japan Campaign

* Related articles
Hong Kong-Japan Tourism Exchange Year 2009 (May 21)
Hong Kong-Japan Tourism Exchange Year 2009 (December 2)