Hong Kong needs to improve communication to meet tourist expectations for fireworks displays, after tourists from mainland China voiced complaints over scaled-down Labor Day fireworks displays Tourism said an industry veteran.
This comes after more than 181,000 mainlanders arrived in Hong Kong on the first day of Golden Week on May 1.
Hong Kong Labor Day fireworks display on May 1, 2024. Photo: Hong Kong Tourism Board.
Timothy Chui, executive director of the Hong Kong Tourism Association, told RTHK that he was “pleasantly surprised” to learn that some mainland tourists had traveled to Hong Kong for the scaled-down fireworks display. ” he said.
However, some Chinese netizens were unimpressed with the festival, complaining about the scale of the fireworks, and others deriding the fireworks as a “smoke show” because they clouded the skyline.
The fireworks display was announced during Budget 2024 as part of a HK$1.09 billion plan to boost tourism and “soft sales” for the city, Finance Minister Paul Chan said in February this year.
Arrival hall at Hong Kong International Airport. File photo: HK Government.
These will be held monthly and each display will cost approximately HK$1 million.
A “clear message” is needed
Some 181,400 tourists from the mainland crossed the border into Hong Kong on Wednesday, accounting for almost a quarter of the 467,608 arrivals, with the rest on Wednesday, according to Immigration Department statistics. Most of them are local residents.
Of the 467,608 people who arrived on Wednesday, only 27,406 were “other visitors”, according to official data. This refers to foreigners who have entered the city other than local or mainland visitors.
Mainland tourist arrivals increased by 40 percent compared to last year’s Labor Day period of 129,349 arrivals. The city expects more than 800,000 mainland tourists to visit during Golden Week, which runs from May 1 to May 5.
Chui attributed these numbers to government propaganda on Chinese social media app Xiaohongshu, adding that more people would have come if the weather had been better.
Kennedy Town travel guide on Xiao Hongshu. Photo: Kyle Lamb/HKFP.
But he also said the government will keep fireworks displays smaller than the large, long-running displays held during National Day and Lunar New Year so tourists know what to expect. He also said a “clear message” should be sent.
Some Chinese netizens complained that they had been “cheated” about the scale of the fireworks.
“I’m glad I didn’t have to rent a yacht to watch the fireworks. Doesn’t it feel like a gimmick to trick tourists into spending money?” One Xiaohongshu user said the low-altitude display only lasted 10 minutes. He complained that there was no such thing.
See more: Hong Kong government is ignoring residents’ demands, says lawmaker, says Hong Kong will listen to local residents as well as mainland tourists
Fireworks were fired directly from the ground and large gray smoke from the fireworks could be seen drifting over Victoria Harbour.
🇭🇰🎆
The May Day fireworks from Hong Kong Island weren’t too bad.
Unfortunately for HKTB, they told everyone to watch from TST. TST is where the smoke rose (see the plume heading towards the TST waterfront at the end of the video)
(📽️:I Cable FB) pic.twitter.com/tWARhgcShH
— Aaron Bush (@tripperhead) May 2, 2024
Chuey said the smoky skyline was because of the rain. “I think tourists who visited Hong Kong were generally satisfied. On social media, it’s normal for people to say some things,” he added.
Rep. Peter Siu, who represents the retail industry, said the government could devote more resources to public relations.
People at West Kowloon Station in Hong Kong on February 15, 2024. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP. Credit: KYLE_LAM.YK
Speaking on the same radio show, he said the fireworks were a “shining light” for Hong Kong that would help boost tourism.
Since Hong Kong reopened its borders in March last year in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, the number of mainland tourists has rebounded faster than international travelers, with many visiting They are looking for potential candidates on social media.
Mainland tourist numbers in the final quarter of 2023 have rebounded to about 80% of the five-year average from 2015 to 2019, according to data from the National Tourism Organization.
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