[Photo provided to China Daily]

Hong Kong is creating special packages and discounts to woo mainland tourists.

The Hong Kong Tourism Board has unveiled a series of favorable travel deals that range from air tickets and accommodation to shopping and catering.

The promotion is part of Hong Kong's efforts to celebrate the 20th anniversary of its return to China.

The anniversary is an important opportunity to bring together tourism players engaging in Hong Kong tourism and local retailers and explain to mainlanders more reasons for traveling in the city, said Becky Ip, deputy executive director of the tourism board, at a news conference in Beijing on May 23.

"More importantly, we want to show our tourists a better Hong Kong," she says.

The city has witnessed tremendous growth in the number of visitors from the mainland, with 42.77 million coming to Hong Kong in 2016, as opposed to 2.36 million in 1997.