Hong Kong tourism sector expects ‘super golden week’ to be boon for business
An extended holiday on the mainland will translate into double the amount of tour groups, although industry insiders predict spending patterns to change
Hong Kong’s tourism and dependent industries were optimistic on Wednesday that an extended holiday on the mainland – dubbed “super golden week” – would translate into a boost in profits, with double the amount of tour groups expected and hotel rooms filling up fast.
Industry insiders also predicted changing consumption patterns for visitors, shifting focus from tourist and shopping hotspots to outlying islands and the countryside.
The golden week holiday was started on the mainland in 2000 as a way to increase domestic tourism and raise the standard of living. While the traditional golden week holiday lasts three to five days, mainland workers will enjoy an extended eight-day break this year starting this weekend, as the National Day public holiday coincides with Mid-Autumn Festival.
Sharp rise in Hong Kong tourist arrivals brings hope that slump is over
Visitors – especially those who live in nearby regions – might shun theme parks and traditional tourist districts and opt for an “in-depth” experience of Hong Kong, Travel Industry Council executive director Joseph Tung Yao-chung said.
“We may see more of them visiting outlying islands and beaches ... hiking routes in the countryside are also growing in popularity,” he said.
Tung said initial forecasts suggested about 250 inbound tours would arrive from the mainland daily during the period, double the amount last year.
“But I must stress that inbound tour groups only make up 6 per cent of all [mainland] visitors.”