Visitor arrivals to Hong Kong drop almost 100 pct in August: tourism board

HONG KONG -- The provisional figure for visitor arrivals to Hong Kong in August was 4,449, a drop of 99.9 percent year on year, the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) announced Tuesday.

According to the figures released by the HKTB, between January and August, visitor arrivals declined by 91.9 percent year on year to around 3.54 million.

In response to recent discussions between Hong Kong and 11 destinations on forming travel bubbles, Chairman of the HKTB Pang Yiu-kai said the tourism board is gradually resuming promotions in the local and source markets, in a bid to revive tourism through a combination of short-term and long-term strategies.

It is anticipated that the mainland, in particular the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and some short-haul markets will be open for travel relatively soon, Pang said, adding that the HKTB is planning promotions and tactical offers targeting these markets, which will be launched immediately once cross-boundary travel resumes.

In the meantime, the HKTB will continue to maintain Hong Kong's presence in source markets through a variety of promotions and mega events, he added.

Locally, Pang said the HKTB is restarting promotions with the "Holiday at Home" campaign to create positive atmosphere in Hong Kong and encourage consumption.

Looking ahead, Pang said the COVID-19 has transformed the global tourism landscape, resulting in a new normal for the industry, and the HKTB will take the opportunity to review Hong Kong's tourism positioning and will continue to seek to attract high-yield visitors.

Pang said seven major events of Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) industry in the field of cargo, sports technology and medical science have been confirmed to be held in Hong Kong, boosting confidence in Hong Kong's ability to draw high-yield MICE visitors in future.