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PolyU scholar honoured among Top 50 Asia Women Tech Leaders 2025 for advancing mental health and brain research

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) takes pride in its diverse research community, whose innovative work drives impactful societal and global advancements. Prof. QIU Anqi, Professor of the Department of Health Technology and Informatics at PolyU and Global STEM Scholar, has been recognised as one of the “Top 50 Asia Women Tech Leaders 2025”. This recognition stands as a testament to Prof. Qiu's outstanding contributions to the fields of neuroimaging and biomedical engineering, particularly in advancing research on mental health and brain development. Prof. Qiu has spearheaded groundbreaking projects utilising advanced neuroimaging and computational techniques, significantly advancing research on early brain development. Her innovative approach has uncovered critical insights into how maternal mood influences fetal brain health, leading to transformative changes in prenatal mental health screening. Additionally, she pioneered a non-invasive imaging method that enhances MRI safety for pediatric patients, setting new standards in the field. Moreover, Prof. Qiu has introduced novel research that advances our understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying the relationship between obesity and its implications on cognitive health in adults. The research underscores the clinical importance of a multifaceted approach to the long-term monitoring and management of obesity. It reveals a distinct and progressive pattern of brain deterioration linked to obesity, suggesting that sustained obesity may accelerate brain ageing. Beyond Prof. Qiu’s professional achievements, this award also recognises her remarkable leadership. As a dedicated mentor, she continues to inspire and empower women in STEM. Her influence and commitment to fostering the next generation of female technology leaders are commendable. The Asia Women Tech Leaders Awards was recently held in Singapore. Its “Top 50 Asia Women Tech Leaders” aims to honor women who drive technological innovation, lead research, and manage complex tech projects with expertise and operational excellence. For more about Prof. Qiu’s impactful research: PolyU research reveals sustained obesity may accelerate brain ageing PolyU scholar confirms maternal positive mental health correlated to children’s brain development  

PolyU harnesses AI and data science to enhance maritime and shipping management and foster sustainable development within the industry

Facing a complex and ever-changing international environment, the maritime and shipping industry requires more efficient and precise data collection and analysis technologies to enhance management efficiency. A  research team at The Maritime Data and Sustainable Development Centre (PMDC) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has developed a series of innovative artificial intelligence (AI) and big data driven tools, including advanced technology for estimating the supply and demand for typhoon shelter berths in Hong Kong to improve vessel monitoring and emergency response, a shipping data analytics platform that uses the Automatic Identification System (AIS) to assess real-time port congestion index and other maritime statistical indicators, and a trajectory analysis technology to effectively detect illegal fishing activities. These innovations not only provide governments and industry stakeholders with cutting-edge management solutions but also drive the sector’s digital transformation and sustainable development. Automatically identifying vessels and estimating the supply and demand for typhoon shelter berths As a coastal city frequently affected by typhoons, Hong Kong must take effective preventive measures to ensure the safety of vessels. The research team, led by Prof. YANG Dong, Associate Head and Associate Professor of the PolyU Department of Logistics and Maritime Studies and Director of the PMDC, has collaborated with the Hong Kong Marine Department to develop an innovative monitoring technology. It utilises images of local vessels captured by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), combined with deep learning-based computer vision algorithms to automatically identify and classify ships, achieving an accuracy rate of 98.6%. This new technology is used to predict the supply and demand for local vessel typhoon shelter berths from 2022 to 2035, optimising the design of berth management plans. The method significantly enhances the government’s monitoring and emergency management efficiency for local vessels and typhoon shelters while greatly reducing labour and time costs. The research results have been adopted by the Hong Kong Marine Department as a technical reference for local typhoon shelter planning, assisting the government in developing shelter facility plans and establishing benchmarks for the digital management of coastal vessels. The technology has broad applications in port state control inspections and port congestion management. Looking ahead, the team plans to develop techniques for data collection and processing based on videos and images, integrating deep learning algorithms to create an intelligent regulatory system for vessels and navigation areas. To date, the team has collected over 50,000 images of local vessels, laying a solid foundation for future research and analysis. Utilising intelligent algorithms to calculate port congestion index Accurately and timely obtaining maritime statistical indicators, such as port congestion index and shipping line connectivity index, remains a major challenge for the maritime industry. Traditional manual data collection methods are error-prone, and the macro information released by administrative agencies or port departments often suffers from delays and lacks comprehensiveness. To address this, Prof. Yang Dong and his team have collaborated with researchers from Tsinghua University to develop advanced big data analysis algorithms for processing AIS data. They constructed a global, multi-level shipping and trade network database and created an online platform capable of calculating key indicators in real-time, such as port congestion index, port connectivity index, and port turnover rate. This research substantially broadens the application scenarios of maritime big data technologies, enabling the current shipping analysis from micro to macro levels, accurately capturing industry dynamics, and providing a reliable basis for maritime operational analysis and decision-making, thereby supporting the sustainable development of the industry. Analysing trajectories to identify illegal fishing vessels In the past, combating illegal fishing primarily relied on random sea patrol, which is costly and inefficient. To enhance the management efficiency of fishing vessels in Hong Kong waters, Prof. Yang Dong and his team developed a fishing vessel behaviour pattern recognition model by applying a novel trajectory feature engineering method combined with a semi-supervised machine learning framework. This model effectively identifies abnormal fishing behaviours with an accuracy rate of up to 90%. This technology integrates maritime domain knowledge with AI algorithms to establish precise distinctions in vessel trajectory features under different navigation states. It greatly reduces the time and labour required for manual data collection and labelling process and can be flexibly adapted for vessel trajectory prediction and emissions monitoring. The team has collaborated with the Hong Kong Tourism Commission and the Marine Department to assess the risks associated with large cruise ships navigating Hong Kong’s central channel using multi-source maritime data such as AIS, maritime radar, and CCTV footage. Recently, the team have utilised graph neural networks to accurately predict the future trajectories of multiple vessels in Hong Kong’s busy waterways, further strengthening real-time navigation safety supervision. Prof. Yang Dong said, “AI and big data technologies are bringing revolutionary changes to the maritime and shipping industry. These innovative assessment and monitoring tools combine domain knowledge in the maritime field with cutting-edge technology, significantly improving the speed, quality, and accuracy of data collection. They also address key operational challenges faced by the industry and make substantial contributions to academic research in related fields, promoting the intelligent development of maritime operations and further solidifying Hong Kong’s position as an international maritime centre.”

PolyU research reveals sharp depletion in soil moisture, driving land water to flow into the oceans and contributing to a rise in sea levels

The increasing frequency of once-in-a-decade agricultural and ecological drought has underscored the urgency of studying hydrological changes. A research team from the Department of Land Surveying and Geo-informatics of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has collaborated with international experts to analyse the estimated changes in land water storage over the past 40 years by utilising space geodetic observation technology and global hydrological change data. This innovative method has revealed a rapid depletion in global soil moisture, resulting in a significant amount of water flowing into the oceans, leading to a rise in sea levels. The research provides new insights into the driving factors behind the alarming reduction in terrestrial water storage and rise in sea levels. The findings have been published in the international journal Science. Since polar motion reflects mass redistribution within the Earth system, integrating models and observations across the atmosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere is crucial. However, previous challenges in measuring terrestrial water storage, particularly groundwater and root zone soil moisture, limited understanding of hydrological depletion at continental scales. Prof. Jianli CHEN, Professor of the PolyU Department of Land Surveying and Geo-informatics and core member of the Research Institute for Land and Space and the international team employed satellite altimetry and gravity missions, including the Gravity Recovery and Satellite Experiment (GRACE), and GRACE Follow-On, to enable continental-scale observations of terrestrial water storage variations. By integrating this with global mean sea levels and polar motion data, the team has explored terrestrial water storage depletion patterns. Notably, this study introduced novel methods for estimating global soil moisture, which improves the accuracy of continental and global scale modeling to enable a more effective understanding of soil moisture variations under climate change. The melting of Greenland’s ice sheet is recognised as the largest single contributor to the rise in global sea levels, adding approximately 0.8mm annually. This study reveals that between 2000 and 2002, the global terrestrial water storage significantly declined, with a total of 1,614 billion tons of water lost to the oceans, which is twice as much as resulting from the current melting of Greenland ice, and equivalent to a 4.5mm rise in sea levels. Since then, the rapid loss of terrestrial water storage has been followed by a more gradual but continuous depletion, with no signs of recovery. In addition, compared to the period from 1979 to 1999, a notable decline in global average soil moisture was observed from 2003 to 2021. Between 2003 and 2011, the Earth’s pole shifted 58cm toward 93° East Longitude, demonstrating that the continued decline in soil moisture is leading to a reduction in terrestrial water storage. The team also pointed out that precipitation deficits and stable evapotranspiration caused by global warming, changing rainfall patterns and increasing ocean temperatures are likely the key factors for the abrupt decline in terrestrial water storage. The ERA5-Land soil moisture data of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts’ corroborates these findings, showing substantial terrestrial water storage losses in Africa, Asia, Europe, and South America. In Asia and Europe, the affected areas expanded from northeastern Asia and eastern Europe to broader regions across East and Central Asia, as well as Central Europe, following the sharp water storage depletion observed between 2000 and 2002. With increasing agricultural irrigation in regions such as northeast China and the western United States, and global greening, soil moisture may further diminish in semi-arid areas with intensive agriculture and high levels of greening. The team suggests the need for improved land surface models which consider these factors for a more comprehensive understanding of long- term changes in terrestrial water storage. Prof. Jianli Chen said, “Sea level change and Earth rotation serve as indicators of large-scale mass changes in the Earth system. Accurately measured sea level change and variation in Earth rotation provide a unique tool for monitoring large-scale mass changes in the global water cycle. By integrating multiple modern space geodetic observations, it enables comprehensive analysis of the driving factors behind changes in terrestrial water storage and sea level rise. This, in turn, provides reliable data for climate and Earth system science experts to further investigate drought issues, aiding authorities in formulating water resource management and climate change mitigation strategies to address new challenges posed by climate change.”

PolyU journal Nexus hosts forum on smart sustainable development promoting interdisciplinary research and innovation

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and Cell Press co-hosted the Nexus Forum 2025 from 8 to 10 May. Themed “Collaborative Innovation for Smart Sustainable Development”, the Forum served as a vital platform for promoting exchange and collaboration in interdisciplinary research and innovation, facilitating the advancement of smart technology and sustainable development. The three-day Forum featured keynote speeches, a panel discussion, oral and poster presentations, and an editorial workshop, attracting over 170 participants, including academic experts and authors, as well as consulate and industry representatives from Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, Japan, Singapore, Sweden, the United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong, and mainland China. Additionally, over 300 PolyU faculty members and students also participated in the event. During the opening ceremony,  Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, PolyU President; Prof. Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation); Prof. Qingyan CHEN, Chair Professor of Building Thermal Science and Director of the PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research (PAIR); and Prof. Jerry YAN, Chair Professor of Energy and Buildings and Editor-in-Chief of Nexus, warmly welcomed the participants from around the world. Prof. Jin-Guang Teng remarked, “In celebrating the first anniversary of Nexus, we reaffirm our commitment to advancing innovative research in applied sciences, engineering, technology, and inter- and multi-disciplinary fields to address some of the world’s most pressing challenges. This forum and Nexus reflect PolyU’s unwavering dedication to pioneering research and scholarship that directly benefits society. Looking ahead, PolyU will continue to champion transformative research through strategic platforms including the PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research, which conducts breakthrough interdisciplinary research in frontier domains of socioeconomic importance; the newly established PolyU Academy for Artificial Intelligence (PAAI), which strengthens our leadership in cutting-edge AI research and applications; and our network of translational research institutes across various cities in mainland China that address local industrial and societal needs.” The Forum featured three inspiring keynote speeches centred around three core themes: innovative techniques for sustainable cities, industrial and interdisciplinary solutions for sustainability, and carbon neutrality and energy system transformation. The speeches sparked thought-provoking discussion on the latest technologies and industry developments in these areas, highlighting how collaborative innovation and research can help shape a sustainable future for all. The distinguished keynote speakers included Prof. Michael OBERSTEINER, Director of Environmental Change Institute of University of Oxford; Prof. HE Kebin and Prof. TU Shandong, Members of Chinese Academy of Engineering; Ms Louise BERGHOLM, Consul General of Sweden to Hong Kong and Macau; Prof. YANG Hongxia, Executive Director of PAAI; as well as scholars and representatives from Tsinghua University, San Diego State University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, East China University of Science and Technology, The University of Hong Kong, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen), Lingnan University, CLP Power Hong Kong, HK Electric, the Hong Kong Green Building Council, and Strategy Department of Tencent. The first two keynote speeches covered topics such as Sweden’s best practices in developing sustainable cities, generative AI applications, innovative engineering solutions for sustainable built environments, and breakthroughs in electric vehicle battery storage technology. The third keynote, themed “Carbon Neutrality and Energy System Transformation”, is co-organised by the PolyU International Centre of Urban Energy Nexus and the Tsinghua University Institute for Carbon Neutrality. It focused on the latest achievements in cutting-edge multidisciplinary research in carbon and earth sciences, environmental science, energy and power engineering, data science, and intelligent technology. Topics included climate risk mitigation strategies, sustainable Modular Integrated Construction, and AI-driven co-simulation in power and carbon markets. At the panel discussion titled “Technology Innovation for Decarbonisation of the Power Sector”, scholars from PolyU, local, mainland China, and overseas universities, as well as representatives from two local power companies introduced and explored the research projects supported by the Strategic Topics Grant under the Hong Kong Research Grants Council. In addition, multiple oral and poster sessions were organised to allow participants to share their views and exchange research findings on different topics, thereby facilitating knowledge exchange and transfer. The editing workshop, co-organised by the PolyU Graduate School, drew over 180 PolyU postgraduate and undergraduate students. Editors-in-chief and editors from seven academic journals, including Nexus and Nature Energy, introduced young researchers to the skills and tools necessary for writing scientific papers. The workshop aimed to enhance the readability and impact of their manuscripts, and to demonstrate the skills of integrating advanced technologies into research. Nexus is Cell Press’s first partner journal in cross-disciplinary subjects and the first title published in collaboration with a university. To learn more, please visit https://www.cell.com/nexus/home.

PolyU and EVOC partner to establish joint research laboratory supporting Greater Bay Area growth

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PolyU research unveils hidden microbial threats to ecosystem caused by plastic waste, urging global collaboration to track harmful microbiomes

Plastic pollution is one of the most pressing environmental challenges, requiring in-depth analytical understanding and advanced technology-driven solutions. Prof. JIN Ling Nathanael, Assistant Professor of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the Department of Health Technology and Informatics at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), and his team have garnered international recognition for the research that sheds light on the often-overlooked microbial threats linked to plastic waste and provides insights for developing more comprehensive global strategies. More than 7 billion tonnes of plastic waste have been generated globally so far, with about 80% accumulating in the environment. As plastic waste continues to be produced and degrades at an extremely slow rate, the plastisphere is expanding rapidly. The plastisphere refers to the communities of microorganisms that colonise plastic debris in both aquatic and terrestrial environments. The plastisphere: an emerging microbial habitat Prof. JIN’s research provides a comprehensive overview of the plastisphere, revealing its unique and diverse microbial communities, which differ markedly from those in natural environments. By analysing samples from freshwater, seawater, and terrestrial environments worldwide, Prof. JIN’s research team found that these communities consist of fragile networks of specialised microorganisms, rarely encountered in nature, with a pronounced ability to decompose organic compounds, potentially accelerating carbon turnover. The study also highlights disturbances in the nitrogen cycle, especially in freshwater systems, where bacteria that release harmful substances such as nitrite and nitrous oxide thrive. Moreover, there has been a rise in harmful microorganisms, including pathogens that pose risks to animals, plants, and humans. These findings have been published in The Innovation, titled “Ecology and risks of the global plastisphere as a newly expanding microbial habitat”, which was recognised as the Most Popular Paper from 2020 to 2024. Prof. JIN said, “Plastic pollution has traditionally been evaluated primarily based on its physical and chemical impacts, such as marine animals becoming entangled in larger debris or fish and seabirds ingesting smaller fragments. However, it is now crucial to consider the microbial threats that plastics harbour. Plastics not only consist of various compounds but also provide nutrients for microbes, which can significantly influence biogeochemical cycling in terrestrial and aquatic environments.” The research team was also invited to publish a commentary in Nature titled “What are the harmful microorganisms in the world's 7 billion tons of plastic waste?”, offering insights into these critical issues. They indicated the fact that because the plastisphere is composed of plastic fragments ranging from micrometres to several metres in size, it can carry inhabiting microbiomes into ecosystems and the food chain through various pathways. Recent findings also showed that one square centimetre of the marine plastisphere can host more than 80,000 diatoms. Remarkably, one gram of marine plastic can contain up to ten times the microbial biomass found in a cubic meter of open ocean water. For instance, harmful algae such as Pseudo-nitzschia, which are known for producing the neurotoxin domoic acid responsible for amnesic shellfish poisoning, have also been observed thriving in the plastisphere. Geographic variation and human activity The severity of the plastisphere varies by geographic location and is closely linked to regional human activities, development, and environmental management. Additionally, ocean currents can concentrate plastics in specific areas, such as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, leading to intensified plastisphere activity. The research team proposed four priorities for a new risk assessment. These include identifying hotspots with close interactions with humans and food security, such as aquaculture farms; protecting vulnerable sites such as wild coral reefs and wetlands, which are crucial for biodiversity, climate regulation, and are highly sensitive to pollution and microbial invasions; and targeting transportation areas where plastics accumulate, such as estuaries, wastewater treatment plants, and long-distance transport vessels. Lastly, special attention must be given to the food chain, as microplastics accumulate in everything from leafy vegetables to seafood, posing a direct threat to human health. Global cooperation, adapted to local contexts, is essential for effectively mitigating the environmental impacts of plastic pollution. For instance, in Asian cities like Hong Kong, developing a framework to assess plastisphere microbiomes requires tailored strategies that consider unique urban and coastal dynamics. This includes prioritising the monitoring of coastal and urban waterway using advanced technologies such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS), remote sensing, and nano-sensors connected through the Internet of Things (IoT). Mapping the trajectory of plastic debris Mapping the trajectory, transport dynamics, and fate of plastic debris carrying microbiomes across ecosystems, regions, and countries is a complex yet achievable task. Prof. JIN said, “It requires extensive international and interdisciplinary collaboration, along with the integration of advanced technology. A crucial component of this project is the standardisation of methods across different research endeavors and the establishment of a global data-sharing framework, both of which are essential for producing consistent, actionable insights.” Prof. JIN’s team is actively collaborating with global partners to collect plastic samples, create a comprehensive planetary catalogue of hazardous plastisphere microbiomes, and track the flow of associated risks. Additionally, leveraging existing research and models on plastic waste migration, fate, and accumulation, they are developing a model to assess and quantify the microbial impacts of plastic pollution. This model, based on existing plastic presence data and future emission scenarios, and will be validated through simulation experiments. The potential impacts of this mapping initiative on research and efforts to mitigate plastic pollution are profoundly transformative. Enhanced mapping and tracking will deepen our understanding of microbial migrations on plastics, enabling more accurate risk assessments and targeted interventions in critical areas. Consequently, this data could guide more effective environmental policies and public health strategies, particularly in regions most affected by plastic pollution. Recently, Prof. JIN has been awarded the 40 Under 40 Recognition Program by the American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists (AAEES) for his contributions to advancing the fields of environmental science. For more: PolyU scholar's impactful interdisciplinary environmental research honored by the American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists

The PolyU Industrial Centre initiates the Hybrid Immersive Virtual Environment for cancer children preparing for radiotherapy

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) Industrial Centre (IC) continues to be equipped with various advanced research facilities to meet the evolving needs of society, allowing students to learn in a comfortable environment. The Hybrid Immersive Virtual Environment (HiVE) at the IC stands as the world's first large-scale virtual hybrid classroom, which uses 15 projectors and employs a fully immersive six-sided Cave Automatic Virtual Environment technology to create a lifelike immersive virtual training setting. Students can immerse themselves in different scenarios while comfortably seated in the classroom, enhancing their flexible learning experience. Prof. Vincent Leung, Associate Professor of Practice of the Department of Health Technology and Informatics of PolyU, and his team utilised the HiVE to develop a project named "HEROCARE".  It is specially designed to support children undergoing cancer treatment. Through simulating the radiotherapy process, HEROCARE helped the children initially familiarise themselves with the process and understand the treatment conditions, machine operation and environment, ultimately reducing their anxiety. The HiVE has unlocked new possibilities for medical education, particularly underscored amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Data shows that fewer than 10% of children aged 5 to 8 complete radiation therapy without anaesthesia. Remarkably, since the introduction of the "HEROCARE" program, over 86% of participating children have successfully completed treatment without anaesthesia. Many children have shared their sense of relaxation, actively interacting with therapists, and demonstrating increased confidence and a positive attitude throughout their treatment journey. Currently, HEROCARE has supported paediatric cancer patients and carcers in Hong Kong for radiotherapy preparation while also expanding its outreach. This holistic, empathy-focused model is scalable and sustainable, aiming to set new standards for ethical, patient-centred healthcare in paediatric cancer treatment.  

The PolyU Industrial Centre facilitates research transformation to benefit society

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) Industrial Centre (IC) not only fosters a focus on cutting-edge technologies among scientific researchers but also actively encourages their involvement in start-up ventures, transforming research outcomes into a driving force for the advancement of our society. Prof. Thomas Lee, Associate Professor of the Department of Biomedical Engineering of PolyU, and his team have been developing portable nucleic acid testing devices since 2014. The initial version of the device was employed in Gold nanoparticle-based loop-mediated isothermal amplification (Gold-LAMP) testing. With the technical support of the IC, the team successfully refined the device and collaborated with the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department for avian influenza detection. ️During the COVID-19 in 2020, there was a substantial increase in demand for rapid testing. The IC promptly produced 20 portable devices within a brief timeframe, introducing portable detection technology at the Emergency Department of Queen Mary Hospital to provide on-site and real-time support for epidemic prevention and control. This innovative technology enhances safety and stability while making a significant contribution to social health management. Prof. Lee emphasised that the IC provides extensive support, guiding projects from conceptualisation to final product implementation and offering expert guidance at every stage. With the greatest assistance from PolyU and the IC, Prof. Lee established a start-up to commercialise the developed technology. In addition to medical applications, the team has also developed nucleic acid detection technology for non-medical applications including testing for food safety and public environmental hygiene, transforming research into practical societal benefits.  

PolyU supports seven collaborative projects to advance research in health, energy, and computing with world-class partners

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has been actively promoting interdisciplinary international research collaborations and developing innovative projects with a global perspective. PolyU recently supported seven academics in advancing projects across various fields, collaborating with renowned partner institutions through the “Collaborative Research with the World's Leading Research Groups 2024/25” scheme, with a total grant of HK$9.5 million. The awarded projects cover a range of research areas, including offshore renewable energy infrastructure, new computational methods and numerical analysis for dispersive and wave problems, and a multilingual speech brain-machine interface. One project focuses on developing a research platform for dual-atom catalysts. These projects are conducted in collaboration with scholars from top institutions, including the University of Edinburgh, the University of Cambridge, University College London, and Peking University. In the field of health and medical care, one project will explore AI-driven biomedical simulation, in collaboration with Johns Hopkins University. Another project, conducted in collaboration with the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, aims to develop an AI-driven, single-cell-based spatial transcriptome profiling platform for research on melanoma, lung cancer and depression. In addition, a project will join hands with Zhejiang University to establish a joint research centre on brain-inspired computing. Launched by PolyU, this funding scheme aims to encourage academics to pursue joint research projects or establish research centres in targeted subject areas in collaboration with world-leading research institutions. Each successful applicant will receive a grant of up to HK$2 million.

PolyU unveils large language model-based tourist satisfaction index, providing comprehensive analysis to enhance Hong Kong tourism service quality

As tourism, one of the major pillars of the Hong Kong economy, gradually recovers from the pandemic, the government has planned a series of measures to promote the all-round development of the tourism industry. The Research Centre for Digital Transformation of Tourism (RCdTT) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) has developed an innovative, large language model (LLM)-based assessment framework – the Hong Kong Tourist Satisfaction Index (HKTSI) – to evaluate the satisfaction level of inbound tourists to Hong Kong from 2012 to 2024 across different tourism-related sectors, temporal scales and regions. Findings reveal that, while performance variations across different regions were clearly indicated, the TSI rebounded and reached its highest-ever recorded score after the temporary decline during the pandemic. Under the leadership of Prof. Haiyan SONG, Principal Investigator and SHTM Associate Dean, RCdTT Director and Mr and Mrs Chan Chak Fu Professor in International Tourism, the TSI was initially introduced in 2009, using a questionnaire-based methodology to evaluate tourists’ satisfaction with various tourism services. Seeking to provide a more comprehensive and accurate analysis, the team has transformed the framework by adopting an interdisciplinary approach that integrates theories from management science, economics and computer science, and leveraging the advanced LLM technology. The enhanced TSI framework offers multi-dimensional analysis, enabling TSI measurement across different dimensions (such as service topics, service sectors and trip types), temporal scales (monthly and annually) and regions. This adaptable approach provides stakeholders with timely, data-driven insights to guide service improvement, policy development and strategic decision-making. Prof. Kaye CHON, SHTM Dean, Chair Professor and Walter and Wendy Kwok Family Foundation Professor in International Hospitality Management, said, “Hong Kong’s competitiveness as a global tourism hub hinges on it delivering exceptional service quality that meets travellers’ expectations. The RCdTT-SHTM’s ongoing development of the TSI underscores our commitment to advancing Hong Kong’s reputation as a world-class destination for international visitors.” The team gathered over 1.25 million reviews from TripAdvisor, a global Online Travel Agency (OTA) platform, covering 13,694 Hong Kong service providers across five tourism service sectors, namely attractions, hotels, restaurants, retail shops and transportation. The LLM-based assessment framework then utilises Alibaba’s open-source General Text Embedding model to extract semantic insights from the visitor reviews in different languages and formats. Key findings include: 1. Topic-based analysis reveals that the largest proportion of reviews are about “service reliability and safety”. This reflects that reliability in tourism services emerged as the most crucial factor influencing tourist satisfaction, forming the foundation of trust in the travel industry. 2. Since 2012, the Hong Kong TSI has shown an overall upward trend, while consistently scoring above 75 points on a 0-100 scale for the past decade. Despite a temporary decline during the pandemic, Hong Kong TSI levels had fully recovered to pre-pandemic levels in 2024. 3. Notably, the transportation sector has consistently achieved high TSI scores, largely due to Hong Kong’s well-developed public transport infrastructure, which continues to enhance visitor experiences. Retail shops and restaurants, on the other hand, have lagged behind, primarily owing to price-related factors. The traditional price advantage of retail shops is gradually diminishing, significantly impacted by the rise of e-commerce. Similarly, restaurants in Hong Kong tend to be relatively expensive, prompting some tourists to seek more affordable dining options on the mainland. Figure 1: TSI at destination and sector levels 4. From a spatial perspective, all districts recorded TSI scores above 73 points, yet a north-south divide persists, with higher satisfaction levels in the southern regions and lower levels in the north. The highest TSI values were concentrated along both sides of Victoria Harbour, such as in the Central and Western, and Yau Tsim Mong Districts, while Kowloon City District recorded considerably lower TSI levels, creating a distinct localised satisfaction gap compared to its surrounding districts. Figure 2: TSI Spatial distribution 5. Tourists with different trip types exhibit significant variations in their satisfaction levels towards Hong Kong. Business tourists generally report the highest satisfaction across most sectors, whereas solo travellers exhibit lower satisfaction overall. This may be due to their different needs: business tourists typically prioritise standardised functional requirements, while the solo travellers place greater emphasis on unique and personalised experiences.  6. Language-based analysis further highlights differences in the TSI, with reviews in English and European languages yielding higher satisfaction levels than the Japanese- and Korean- language reviews. This highlights the impact of cultural differences on tourist satisfaction. Objectives of the TSI The LLM-based TSI framework is crafted to deliver regular, data-driven insights that benefit tourism service providers, policymakers and destination management organisations. Through topic-level TSI analysis, for instance, businesses can pinpoint specific areas for service enhancement, while destination- and sector-level assessments provide a broader perspective for strategic planning and policy formulation. Additionally, monthly TSI updates ensure that assessment results remain timely and relevant, enabling swift and informed decision-making. Although the Hong Kong economy has largely recovered from disruptions caused by the pandemic, challenges such as labour shortages, supply constraints, changing economic conditions, evolving consumer behaviour and competition persist. Highlighting the significance of the TSI in tackling these challenges and facilitating relevant decision-making and planning, Prof. Song remarked, “To sustain ongoing recovery, accurate and timely assessment of the satisfaction level of inbound tourists is essential for policymakers and industry practitioners to develop sustainable tourism strategies that will further fortify Hong Kong’s tourism advantages, propel its tourism industry and ultimately promote long-term economic growth in the City.” As technology advances, both destinations and visitors increasingly rely on information and communication technologies to make their decisions. In support of the long-term sustainability of the tourism sector, by harnessing artificial intelligence, LLM and big data analytics, the enhanced TSI assessment framework aims to offer more precise and targeted advice for strengthening tourism service quality and bolstering Hong Kong’s global competitiveness.