“Young consumers are often spending money on attractions. Their spending behaviour can be quite different from the older generations,” said Tingting Fan, principal lecturer at the Hong Kong University Business School.
“Fans are willing to pay for merchandise, to see celebrities. Those kinds of purchases (and) consumption are very, very important to the local economy.”
STANDING OUT IN A CROWDED MARKET
However, Hong Kong Comic Con enters a highly competitive market. Across Asia, cities are already hosting a crowded calendar of anime, gaming and comic conventions.
Analysts say Hong Kong’s success will depend on its ability to offer something unique to the city.
“For example, not only local movie stars, but also something that is reflective of the Hong Kong culture – that will be more attractive and more able to attract high-value tourists,” said Chris Cheung, a lecturer at Lingnan University’s Wu Jieh Yee School of Interdisciplinary Studies.
“Nowadays … not many tourists like shopping. They like to have an in-depth exploration of Hong Kong.”