700 mainland tour teams to reach in Hong Kong over Nationwide Day break, such vacationers sometimes account for under 5% of tourists from throughout the border: minister

Hong Kong’s tourism minister has stated he expects greater than 700 tour teams from mainland China will go to the town over the eight-day Nationwide Day break, noting that such arrivals sometimes account for under 5 per cent of all vacationers from throughout the border.

Secretary for Tradition, Sports activities and Tourism Kevin Yeung Yun-hung on Saturday additionally stated the town was effectively ready for an inflow of vacationers over the eight-day “golden week” vacation, urging residents to play their half as pleasant hosts.

About 122,877 mainland guests arrived in Hong Kong on Friday, the primary day of the break. The Journey Trade Council earlier estimated about 1 million vacationers from throughout the border would go to the town throughout the whole vacation, amounting to 70 per cent of pre-pandemic ranges for a similar interval.

Yeung informed a radio programme that greater than 700 mainland tour teams had been anticipated to reach within the metropolis within the coming days, in contrast with some 453 comprising about 14,000 individuals who visited Hong Kong over the Labour Day golden week in Might.

The Nationwide Day vacation on the mainland will final till October 6. In Hong Kong, it’s a one-day public vacation that falls on Monday.

Residents in To Kwa Wan had beforehand complained about tour teams gathering outdoors eating places and outlets within the neighbourhood. Yeung assured crowd management measures had been already in place and authorities would maintain a detailed eye on the scenario.

However he stated current figures confirmed mainland guests had shifted away from packaged excursions.

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“Unbiased guests accounted for extra 90 per cent of mainland arrivals and it’s solely about 5 per cent for tour teams,” Yeung stated. “With extra individuals travelling independently, we’d like all Hong Kong residents to serve vacationers effectively collectively.”

He stated the shift to unbiased journey had made native sights that confirmed “how we stay and the place we go” extra fashionable, including {that a} current Tourism Board promotion specializing in tradition and nature within the metropolis had drawn about 200 million views on Xiaohongshu, the mainland’s Instagram-like social media platform.

The minister stated whereas he hoped the federal government’s “Hong Kong Night time Vibes” marketing campaign aimed toward revitalising the after-dark economic system would increase tourism, he had noticed that the recognition of many sights amongst unbiased mainland travellers had constructed up organically.

“The explanation why Sham Shui Po is changing into a [tourist hotspot] is as a result of many native younger individuals have been visiting cafes with ‘hipster’ vibes. Hong Kong individuals have at all times made good use of the town’s sights,” Yeung stated.

However unbiased mainland travellers choosing smaller native eateries over bigger eating places had contributed to a 25 per cent drop in per-head spending by vacationers on meals within the metropolis in contrast with pre-pandemic ranges, stated Simon Wong Ka-wo, president of the Hong Kong Federation of Eating places and Associated Trades.

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Wong informed a TV programme that the Nationwide Day fireworks show on Sunday evening – the primary one since 2018 – might result in a 20 per cent increase in enterprise for eateries on each side of the Victoria Harbour.

He additionally expressed confidence {that a} string of evening actions would persuade extra Hongkongers to spend regionally.

“Native residents who stay in Hong Kong will exit to spend cash if they’re in a cheerful temper, build up the great vibes,” he stated.