Hong Kong should set up more direct flights to eight mainland Chinese cities recently added to the solo traveler regime to encourage tourist accommodation and spending, tourism and retail industry leaders said on Monday. .
Mainland Chinese authorities announced over the weekend that residents of Taiyuan, Hohhot, Harbin, Lhasa, Lanzhou, Xining, Yinchuan and Urumqi can apply to visit Hong Kong without joining a tour group from May 27.
However, the city’s Airport Authority said only four of the eight locations – Taiyuan, Lanzhou, Yinchuan and Urumqi – have direct flights to Hong Kong.
Hong Kong Tourism Association executive director Timothy Chew Ting-pung said on Monday that he expected direct flights to the eight cities to be launched every one to two days to ensure more accessible travel. Ta.
“These cities are relatively far from Hong Kong, so they are more likely to be long-distance leisure travelers or business travelers. [Having direct flights would] It meets the city’s need for long-distance guests,” Chui said.
Chui also emphasized the importance of providing direct flights to Harbin, the largest metropolis in the northeast and a hub for the region.
“You can also fly to northeastern cities such as Changchun and Jilin via Harbin. They are famous tourist destinations,” he said.
“The addition of these eight cities will not only boost tourism, but also strengthen economic and trade ties between these cities and Hong Kong.”
Councilor Peter Siu Ka-fai said the inclusion of eight cities in the scheme would benefit Hong Kong’s retail and catering industries, adding that these tourists still find Hong Kong “hugely refreshing”. He added that there is.
He also emphasized the importance of establishing direct flights to Hong Kong to maximize spending opportunities.
A preliminary check of the mainland social media platform Xiaohongshu, similar to Instagram, by the newspaper found several posts encouraging travelers to make the most of their Hong Kong trip by spending the night in Shenzhen.
“if [visitors] If they go to Shenzhen first and then come to Hong Kong, they have the opportunity to stay in Shenzhen first, or they can only come to Hong Kong and visit Shenzhen and stay at night if they find Shenzhen convenient. Yes,” Siu said. “Neither is considered overnight tourism in Hong Kong.”
More direct flights between Hong Kong and eight cities could also make it easier for Hong Kong businessmen to connect with other parts of the world, a tourism industry leader said.Photo: Ik Young Man
Mr Siu, head of retail and catering, said although Hong Kong faces competition from neighboring cities, it still has unique advantages, including being a hub for many international brands and strict food safety regulations.
Some airlines plan to resume direct flights between Hong Kong and Harbin from next month and increase flights to Urumqi, airport authorities said.
It also encouraged airlines to open their own direct flights to eight mainland cities.
Mr Chiu, from the Hong Kong Tourism Association, said setting up more direct travel routes would ensure Hong Kong could contribute to driving the country’s development.
“Hong Kong, as an international financial center, has the potential to become a gateway connecting the interior west and northwest to the rest of the world,” he said.
“The Solo Travel Plan will make it easier for businessmen from eight cities to connect with the world and do business in Hong Kong.”
Development of the western mainland has been an important economic policy since the 2000s, as the Chinese government strives to narrow the gap between wealthy coastal areas and poor inland areas.
Five of the cities added to solo travel plans are in the west: Hohhot, Yinchuan, Lanzhou, Urumqi, Lhasa, and Xining.
In its 14th Five-Year Plan for 2021-25, the Chinese government aims to promote Western development plans, link them to the Belt and Road Initiative, and improve trade and economic integration across Asia, Europe and Africa. He said he is aiming for
