Published on
November 16, 2025
After the success of its 2024 edition, BODW In the City 2025 is returning from November 24 to December 7, 2025. The fortnight-long festival, organized by the Hong Kong Design Centre, promises to bring more than 30 vibrant and immersive design happenings across the city, showcasing not just appeal for design enthusiasts but also targeting global visitors. The festival will encompass key areas such as Central, Admiralty, Wan Chai, and Tsim Sha Tsui, attracting both locals and international tourists, reinforcing the city’s status as a global design and tourism hub.
With the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency as Lead Sponsor, the festival will give way to exhibitions, live demonstrations, gastronomic experiences, and dynamic talks for an all-encompassing design experience showcasing local innovation and global influences. Guided by its theme, CurioCity, the festival invites visitors to explore the power of design, driven by curiosity, through sparking new conversations and connections between design communities from across the world.
A Growing Tourism Impact: Design and Culture Fuel Hong Kong’s Visitor Economy
The BODW In the City 2025 festival is more than just a celebration of creativity; it plays a vital role in boosting tourism in Hong Kong. As Professor Viveca Chan, Vice Chairman of the Hong Kong Design Centre, emphasized during the press conference, Hong Kong’s ability to merge design and business provides a unique platform for tourists to engage with the city’s rich cultural heritage and dynamic design innovations. This blend of design with tourism experiences helps draw a diverse crowd of international tourists, making the event a key driver for the city’s visitor economy.
Incorporating design, culture, and local experiences, BODW In the City serves as an essential tourism magnet, inviting travelers from all over the globe to immerse themselves in Hong Kong’s vibrant urban landscape. From international visitors seeking cultural insights to local residents enjoying the fusion of design and daily life, the festival acts as a cultural bridge, enhancing the city’s tourism appeal and positioning it as a must-visit destination for design lovers.
Celebrating Global and Local Design Collaborations with Tourism in Mind
The successful press conference for BODW In the City 2025 was held on November 11, at Nature Discovery Park, K11 MUSEA. Among the honored guests were Mr. Carmelo Ficarra, Consul General of Italy in Hong Kong and Macao, and Professor Viveca Chan, Vice Chairman of the Hong Kong Design Centre. Their presence highlighted the international collaboration that enhances the city’s role in both design and tourism.
Mr. Carmelo Ficarra emphasized how the collaboration with Italian brands brings global design influence to Hong Kong, showcasing how this fusion of Italian craftsmanship and local creativity is contributing to the city’s rising appeal as a tourism destination. “This event serves as a bridge connecting the creative energies of Hong Kong and Italy, and we are thrilled to see how premium Italian brands are influencing local design culture,” he said.
The involvement of Italian brands and other international partners strengthens the city’s global tourism reputation, offering tourists a unique opportunity to experience both traditional and modern design elements that are a reflection of Hong Kong’s evolving creative scene.
CurioCity: Fostering Design Curiosity and Enhancing Tourism Engagement
This year’s CurioCity theme will be a focal point of the festival, encouraging tourists and locals alike to discover the intersections between design, curiosity, and urban exploration. Visitors will have the chance to engage with various design initiatives across the city, from interactive decorated tram tours to live car painting performances. These immersive experiences not only engage the public with creative expression but also promote tourism mobility, as tourists can explore different parts of the city while experiencing cutting-edge design.
The inclusion of internationally renowned designers in talks, presentations, and live performances will further enhance the festival’s role in tourism development, attracting both professional design audiences and general visitors interested in cultural tourism. This dynamic programming creates a cultural ecosystem where visitors can see Hong Kong from multiple perspectives—through art, architecture, craftsmanship, and design innovation.
Tourism and Design: Collaborating to Transform Urban Landscapes
As BODW In the City 2025 attracts global tourists, it also serves as a powerful example of how design festivals can transform cities into global tourism hubs. Through a series of high-profile events and design experiences, the festival draws attention to Hong Kong’s creative industries, encouraging not only design enthusiasts but also tourists from around the world to explore what the city has to offer.
The unique combination of art and culture, coupled with the tourism benefits of hosting international designers and global brands, places the festival at the intersection of tourism and design innovation. The CurioCity theme encourages people to explore both the physical and conceptual landscapes of Hong Kong, offering new tourism opportunities while enhancing the city’s economic and cultural profile.
The Role of Italian Design in Shaping Hong Kong’s Tourism Experience
Italy’s participation in BODW In the City 2025 provides an added layer of international collaboration, creating an exciting blend of Italian design and Hong Kong’s urban vitality. Italian design brands are bringing their global influence to Hong Kong, while also benefiting from the city’s tourism market—introducing Italian luxury and craftsmanship to a new audience.
This partnership plays a significant role in shaping the tourism experience, providing a platform for travelers to engage with both local and global design trends. The fusion of cultures in this collaborative environment is a testament to how design and tourism can complement each other, driving both economic growth and tourism visibility.
BODW In the City 2025 as a Catalytic Tourism Event
BODW City Programme 2025 will be one of the key tourism drivers for Hong Kong, with an international audience coming to witness firsthand how design has evolved in this city. The festival greatly contributes to Hong Kong’s position as one of the leading design centers in Asia. With the element of curiosity, cultural exchange, and international collaborations, the event reiterates the notion that Hong Kong is a destination not to be missed by design lovers and tourists alike.
With a mixture of local creativity and global design influences, BODW In the City 2025 will continue to play a significant role in transforming urban tourism and ensuring that Hong Kong remains dynamic and attractive to travelers from around the world.
