The curbs were lifted for the first time in more than 2-1/2 years after the city’s leader, John Lee, said last week that such arrivals could return home or seek accommodation of their choice, but had to self-monitor for three days on entry.
International arrivals are barred from bars and restaurants for three days. Although allowed to go to work and school, they still need to do multiple COVID tests in the first week after arriving.
Still, Hong Kong’s Travel Industry Council expects outbound travel to surge as much as 50% in the next few months, executive director Fanny Yeung told a public broadcaster.
Growth would be capped by the number of outbound flights, however, Yeung cautioned, while inbound tourism was not likely to grow by much, inhibited by the existing curbs.
A travel website said searches for Japan surged to 10 times last week while those for Taiwan almost doubled over the prior 14 days.
Another online travel portal said flight searches surged 95 times and orders soared 50% on its Hong Kong site on the week, with Tokyo, Bangkok, Osaka and Singapore featuring as top destinations.
International aviation body IATA said the next step would be for Hong Kong to scrap all COVID-19 measures.
The former British colony had been a global outlier outside mainland China in imposing hotel quarantine for international arrivals, in line with the country’s “dynamic zero” COVID strategy.
Business groups, diplomats and many residents had slammed the COVID-19 rules saying they threatened Hong Kong’s competitiveness and standing as a global financial centre.
Still, residents landing at the city’s airport were thrilled by Monday’s easing.
Tags: COVID-19 pandemic, international arrivals, Outbound travel, Hong Kong tourism
