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Nikki Sun

Taiwan is becoming increasingly popular with Hongkongers, with 30 per cent more holidaying there in the first three months of the year.
Tony Wu, a director at the Taiwan Tourism Bureau, said the island was a popular choice in the current economic downturn as prudent tourists opted for short-haul and more economical destinations.
He called for more co-operation between the two places as they shared similar “culture imprints” due to their colonial history.
Hong Kong tourism sector fears the worst during next week’s mainland Chinese holiday
“When the economy suffers a downturn, people are more likely to choose short-haul destinations,”
Wu said, adding that prices on the island and travel costs were quite affordable for Hong Kong travellers.
He said 40 per cent more Hongkongers flew to Taiwan in March compared with a year ago.
Unlike Taiwan, Hong Kong’s tourism sector is not showing signs of recovering, and industry insiders are largely bearish on the “golden week” national holiday that runs from April 30 to May 2.
Michael Li Hon-shing, executive director of the Federation of Hong Kong Hotel Owners, expected average hotel rates to drop by at least 10 per cent during the holiday compared with a year earlier, as only 85 per cent of rooms had been booked.
The year-long slump in the market has prompted the city’s two theme parks – Ocean Park and Disneyland – to offer discounts. Disneyland halved room rates at its hotels in a rare move to boost businesses this week and will offer discounts of up to 30 per cent over the holiday.
Diversification key to rebuilding Hong Kong’s tourism industry
Ocean Park is targeting locals rather than visitors in May, as it will offer discounts of up to 25 per cent on admission fees for Hong Kong Identity Card holders whose Chinese or English names include certain characters or letters.
Despite the gloomy outlook for the long weekend, Tainan, in southern Taiwan, plans to take the opportunity of the three-day holiday to stage a street food fair in Hong Kong’ s Plaza Hollywood, featuring eight of its most popular street foods.
The shopping mall expects the fair will bring in eight per cent more customers and boost sales by five per cent over the holiday compared with last year.


Prudent Hongkongers flock to Taiwan, with arrivals up 30 per cent in first quarter   

Tourists enjoy a fine day at the Peak Tower in Hong Kong. Photo: Dickson Lee

News

Hong Kong

In contrast, the city’s tourism industry is bracing itself for another disappointing long holiday weekend
