Change in holiday habits sees budget travel to Hong Kong increase as mainland Chinese visitors opt for cross-border commutes for ‘golden week’
- One mainland couple opted to stay in Futian and commute daily across the border to Hong Kong to save cash
- But some still splash out on city hotels and spend on luxury items like skincare products and watches
Guangxi student Benny Yang Ke and his girlfriend were among hundreds of mainland Chinese tourists who flocked to Hong Kong’s Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront to sightsee on Sunday, the last gasp of their three-day Labour Day “golden week” break in the city.
But the 21-year-old said the two had opted to stay across the border at a hotel in Futian, Shenzhen, to save on costs and commute to Hong Kong on day trips.
They were among the mainland tourists who travelled to see Hong Kong on a budget over the five-day holiday and seek out affordable meals and sightseeing.
“Budget travel is the trend nowadays,” Yang said. “If you can rent a double room in Shenzhen for only 400 yuan per night, there is no way I would spend nearly HK$2,000 (US$256) a night in Hong Kong hotels.”
He added they did not plan to shop, although they spent some time in shopping centres having coffee when there was downpour on Saturday.
