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Coronavirus: Hong Kong tourism almost non-existent, with visitor numbers for September down 99.7 per cent from last year
- While excitement has accompanied planned travel bubble with Singapore, local lawmaker says key to reviving sector remains mainland China and Macau
- Tourism Board, meanwhile, launches ‘360 Hong Kong Moments’ virtual reality film series in bid to keep city top of mind for would-be travellers
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Hong Kong tourism remained nearly non-existent in September, down 99.7 per cent year on year – a reality one lawmaker said would likely continue until cross-border travel had resumed with mainland China and Macau.
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The provisional tally of 9,132 arrivals, released by the Hong Kong Tourism Board on Monday, meant the sector suffered a 92.4 per cent decline in arrivals to 3.55 million for the first nine months of this year from the same period in 2019.
Worldwide travel restrictions and fears of imported coronavirus cases have paralysed global tourism.
Non-residents arriving by plane are barred from entering the city in most cases, while those allowed in, including Hongkongers, are subject to 14 days of compulsory quarantine.
All but three of the city’s border checkpoints remain closed, with travellers only able to enter via the airport, Shenzhen Bay and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge.
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