Chairman of QTSA Governing Council, Mr Vincent Fang, JP. |
Reflecting back over what has been a pivotal year in the evolution of our Association, I am both encouraged and optimistic regarding
the future of our great city and the increasing role we play in further encouraging and contributing towards continued standards of
excellence within the tourism and services industries.
Hong Kong's business sector has, once again, experienced a year of peaks and troughs, however, our proven resilience, entrepreneurial
spirit and "Can do" attitude have demonstrated to the world that this economic powerhouse, of which we are so proud, continues to develop,
grow and prosper, demonstrating to both residents and the international business community at large that we are indeed Asia's world city.
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Our Association has itself experienced notable changes over the past few months, not least the adoption of new trade name, Quality Tourism
Services Association (QTSA), effective as of 1 April 2003. The decision to adopt the new trade name was taken in order to better reflect the
fact that the membership of the Association is primarily composed of Quality Tourism Services (QTS) merchants.
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Within this adoption, we will continue to observe our mandate to actively promote the QTS Scheme amongst trade, to encourage and further promote
quality tourism services amongst members through seminars, workshops, newsletters, members' activities, and to provide networking opportunities
amongst members to share experiences and best practices in delivering quality tourism services. It must also be emphasised that QTSA remains an
important strategic partner of the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) in promoting quality tourism services.
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The new QTSA decal. |
I am also delighted to confirm that all merchants accredited under the QTS Scheme of the HKTB will automatically be eligible to join the QTSA and
that existing BBTS members have automatically become QTSA members with effect from 1 April 2003. With all existing QTS merchants being QTSA members,
it is expected that the QTSA membership base will be increased from 560 members to some 1,100 members, reflecting QTSA's stronger representation within,
and contribution to, the tourism services industry in Hong Kong.
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An important development in growing awareness of both our Association and the standards it promotes throughout the tourism and services industries in Hong
Kong has been the release of new decals, a new Association logo and other promotional materials, such as our revamped web site (www.qtsa.com) and redesigned newsletter,
QTSA.News which further reflect the adoption of our new trade name and increasing membership growth. Members can now display the new decals at the front of their establishments.
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The new, revamped QTSA website was launched to reflect the adoption of a new trade name. |
QTSA.News. |
At this stage I feel it is important to comment on the Extraordinary General Meeting which was held on 24 March 2003. This was held with the purpose of amending some clauses of
the "Memorandum And Articles of Association" (M&A) in order to further promote the more efficient administration and compliance with statutes stipulated by the Companies Registry.
Our efforts in the continued promotion and further growth of our Association is indeed timely at this crucial time in Hong Kong, and to this end over the past year conducted a purposeful
project promoting further QTS penetration, which was commenced in November 2002 and ended in January 2003, to enhance the penetration of the scheme in four major districts namely, Tsim Sha Tsui,
Causeway Bay, Stanley and Central comprising 36 key streets. The Association additionally provided service enhancement to the merchants in these streets.
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At this juncture I must comment on the latest challenge to have been presented to our members and indeed Hong Kong's economy as a whole - the outbreak of SARS. Although this devastating outbreak
crippled Hong Kong's tourism and services industries, I am confident that future outlook will be bright and that businesses will rebound in the not-too-distant future with notable contribution to
this recovery coming with the ever- increasing number of mainland tourists visiting our city, the Government's continued investment in the tourism industry and its leadership in efforts and research
into both combating SARS and improving standards of public hygiene throughout Hong Kong.
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An Extraordinary General Meeting was held on 24 March 2003. |
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As we look to the future, economic recovery and continued growth for businesses here in Hong Kong, I am pleased to announce that QTSA will continue its ongoing support and encouragement of our
membership base through organisation of activities designed to further assist and educate members in the provision of ever-higher standards of service to all. We will additionally provide training
workshops on a regular basis to enhance qualities of service and to keep members abreast of the latest development throughout the tourism and services industries.
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QTSA will continue its ongoing support to Hong Kong's tourism and services industries through organisation of Association activities. |
My thanks at this stage must go to the Association's Governing Council and Secretariat for their continued encouragement, inspiration and support during this past year. The changes, challenges and opportunities
presented to this Association for the future further confirm the increasing role we will play in relation to businesses here in Hong Kong and continuing provision of that key element for which our city is so famous - service!
Hong Kong is the region's leading tourist destination, a key business hub and acknowledged international economic powerhouse.
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Our members have demonstrated exceptional strength and fortitude over the past year in the face of
adversity and economic challenges. On behalf of the executives of QTSA, I congratulate you all on your fighting spirit as demonstrated in recent months, and I pledge QTSA's total commitment to further assisting and promoting
the standards of service and business excellence which have made Hong Kong Asia's world city.
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