Hong Kong ranked number one shopping city in Globe Shopper Index from Global Blue

Hong Kong, 26 October 2012 – Hong Kong was today named Asia Pacific’s top shopping city as Global Blue revealed the results of their expanded Globe Shopper Index.  Hong Kong headed twenty-five other Asia Pacific cities in the rankings, which measures how cities successfully attract international travellers to shop. The rankings are based on five categories covering shops, affordability, convenience, hotels & transport and culture & climate.  Hong Kong came top of the index beating Kuala Lumpur into second place. The top five was completed by Shanghai, Beijing and Singapore.

Presenting the award for Hong Kong’s position as the most attractive all around shopping city in Asia-Pacific to Ms. Daisy Lui, Deputy Executive Director of the Hong Kong Tourism Board, Global Blue President & CEO Per Setterberg said: “I want to congratulate Hong Kong and the other Asia Pacific globe shopper cities for their success in attracting globe shoppers. Global Blue developed the Globe Shopper Index in partnership with the Economist Intelligence Unit as an essential planning tool for all international travel shoppers searching for their next shopping destination in Asia Pacific and Europe. Thanks to Global Blue’s Globe Shopper Index, travellers from Hong Kong and the rest of the world will be able to discover their ideal shopping city based on their personal priorities and share it with their friends on line.”

Deputy Executive Director of the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) Ms Daisy Lui said: “We are very pleased that Hong Kong has been selected as the best shopping city in Asia Pacific in the Globe Shopper Index by Global Blue. Shopping is closely related to tourism and is indeed one of the most popular activities among travellers to Hong Kong. Survey by the HKTB showed that in the first half of 2012, overnight visitors to Hong Kong spent more than HK$50.4 billion on shopping during their visits, bringing tremendous economic benefits to the city’s retail sector and the economy at large. The HKTB will certainly continue its endeavours to promote shopping and other tourism appeals of Hong Kong to global travellers, and encourage them to experience the city first-hand, so that we can create even more business opportunities for our tourism, retail and related sectors.”

Hong Kong

Hong Kong secured the number one spot because of its long sales seasons, and the high diversity of brands available in the many, many luxury goods stores in the city. It also scored top marks as a safe city. However, it scored poorly on affordability as it has some of the priciest hotels and public transport of Index cities. The high price of goods, such as watches, clothing and perfume also held it back.

A Shopping City Suited to You

Whether a globe shopper cares most about finding a great place to lunch, or an open-all-hours shopping culture, whether they just want great prices, or are looking for the biggest variety of luxury goods to choose from, the Globe Shopper Index is the place to start researching a destination city. From today globe shoppers can visit www.globeshopperindex.com, select the city features most important to them and find the cities that best match their preferences.  They can then share their preferred cities online with their friends to gather shopping tips.

Hong Kong Globe Shoppers

As the premier provider of insight and information on globe shoppers Global Blue has an extensive knowledge on worldwide international globe shopper behaviour.  Our data shows that Europe remains the favourite destination for extended shopping vacations for globe shoppers from Hong Kong.  In 2011 Hong Kong shoppers spent €140m in Europe and subsequently reclaimed sales tax through Global Blue.  Based on the transactional data Global Blue knows that Hong Kong globe shoppers particularly like to shop in Paris and London, home markets for many international brands. According to the Index both these cities are characterised strongly by a wide variety of stores and brands and excellent restaurants and other cultural attractions.  Global Blue also knows that travellers from Hong Kong, like all Chinese globe shoppers, want to be assured of the quality and heritage of the brands they buy, another reason why they regularly visit Europe, as well as the opportunity to shop tax free. Global Blue designed the Globe Shopper Index to help Hong Kong travellers discover new and exciting cities for their future globe shopping trips.

Index Table