Tourism came to the aid of Hong Kong earlier in difficult times, bringing a brisk economic recovery after the Sars epidemic. In the wake of the Covid pandemic, the city has turned to tourism – and in particular visitors from mainland China – to turn things around.
But some of the similarities end there. Shopping in Hong Kong has lost its former magnetism. Today more travelers are looking for entertainment and cultural experiences. This puts the city’s famous ability to adapt to the test.
To add to the challenge, residents of two heavily populated mainland cities, Qingdao and Xian, become eligible for individual city visits rather than tour groups from March 6. If it turns out well, further expansion is on the cards.
The scheme originally targeted a handful of centers in Guangdong, then major cities such as Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Beijing and Shanghai before reaching 49. This is the first time the list has been updated since 2007.
Now it’s up to Hong Kong to attract visitors from the two new cities alone. A requirement to stay overnight makes them a potentially lucrative target. That should not be taken for granted, given the option to stay in Shenzhen and cross the border for day visits.
Next, the government should promote Hong Kong as a destination in Qingdao and Xian.
If the expansion works, more mainland cities could join from the northeast, southwest and northwest, starting with Harbin and other cities in Heilongjiang province.
This is according to the head of the tourism industry Simon Wong Ka-wo and others who put Beijing’s first man in Hong Kong business, Xia Baolong, on his visit to the city.
Hong Kong overnight visitor spending falls 37%, to return to 2019 levels
Hong Kong overnight visitor spending falls 37%, to return to 2019 levels
But there is some preparation to be done, given limited direct flights from these cities and no direct high-speed rail link between them and Hong Kong.
Research is needed into the socio-economics of likely visitors from Qingdao and Xian and their expectations. New solo guests are likely to be experienced travelers. There is a need to know their travel habits and preferences.
Amid calls from the business sector for more mainland centers to be eligible for the individual visit scheme, authorities would be cautious to expand gradually, bearing in mind past tensions with locals in border areas affected by an increase of visitors.
In the midst of integration with the Greater Bay Area, it would not be in anyone’s interest.
