Flavoured cigarette ban in Hong Kong may deter mainland tourists, expert warns
Poll of tour operators finds mainland’s 300 million smokers may think twice about visiting city if Hong Kong implements stricter measures
Hong Kong’s tourism sector has called on authorities to reconsider plans to ban flavoured cigarettes because the measure may put off visitors from mainland China, which accounts for the city’s largest source of tourists and has a large smoking population.
Timothy Chui Ting-pong, executive director of the Hong Kong Tourism Association, also said on Monday that the city should consider making smoking areas more common, citing Japan as a model where public health and smokers’ rights were respected.
“We need to find a balance that respects both smokers and non-smokers, ensuring that visitors can enjoy their experience without the disruption of second-hand smoke,” Chui said.
He noted the mainland had a smoker population of about 300 million, with many of them having a preference for certain tobacco products, including flavoured and alternative smoking options.
In the first eight months of this year, mainland visitors accounted for 77 per cent of tourist arrivals in the city, according to the Hong Kong Tourism Board’s latest statistics.
If Hong Kong implemented strict smoking bans, these tourists may reconsider their travel plans, Chui said.
