It's the worst ever golden week, say Hong Kong retailers
Numbers are down in luxury shops and pharmacies as mainland tourists flock to other destinations amid economic woes and a stronger dollar
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The "golden week" holiday lost its lustre on its first day yesterday, with some retailers describing it as "the worst ever".
Tsim Sha Tsui, Mong Kok and Causeway Bay - popular shopping districts which used to be clogged with suitcase-wielding mainlanders - were remarkably quiet on the first day of the National Day break.
On Canton Road in Tsim Sha Tsui, the usual long queues outside luxury stores were gone.
More than 10 high-end jewellery stores along Haiphong Road were quite empty, with staff outnumbering customers.
Pharmacies faced the same problem. Mr Yeung, who owns Min Sui Medicine Shop on Haiphong Road and Canton Road, said it was the worst "golden week" he had ever seen.
"I just made a few thousand dollars of sales this morning. It is a 70 per cent slump. Worse still, it has just started," Yeung lamented.
Tourism in Hong Kong has slumped for the first time since 2009 on the combined effect of mainland visitors preferring alternative regional destinations and a stronger Hong Kong dollar against other Asian currencies. The government has also blamed a string of protests against mainland shoppers and parallel traders for scaring off visitors.
"We are not welcome in the city, right? I don't want to be labeled a locust," said mainland tourist Ms Li, who came to the city on a day trip from Guangzhou.
The sparse crowds surprised a Singaporean couple who visit the city annually.
"It used to be so packed and suffocating. I have no idea where the people have gone," said Mrs Ong.
The chairman of the Travel Industry Council, Michael Wu Siu-ieng, said earlier that the number of mainland tours to Hong Kong had dropped 10 per cent this year mainly because of weakening Asian currencies, which prompted mainland tourists to visit alternative destinations.
Ocean Park expected a 10 to 20 per cent drop in patrons during the holiday due to the decline in the number of visitors to the city.
The hotel industry, however, saw some light in the tourism downturn. The Hotels Association said rooms were 70 per cent booked yesterday, with 90 per cent reported for today and Saturday - in line with figures for last year.
"Most rates were slashed by 15 per cent to boost last-minute bookings. Some hotels even offered complimentary breakfasts or dinners," said association chairman Victor Chan Kok-wai.
The National Day holiday coincides with the Mid-Autumn Festival this year. By taking three extra days off, mainlanders can enjoy an 11-day break from September 27 until next Wednesday.
The Immigration Department said over 700,000 people passed through border control points up until 10pm yesterday.
In an article in the today, commerce minister Greg So Kam-leung said the government was studying suggestions for promoting more than just shopping and dining in Hong Kong. He pointed to the need to publicise arts, culture and even hiking trails in a bid to attract different types of visitors.
He also hoped the West Kowloon Cultural District and the revitalised Old Central Police Station Compound, which would open to the public from next year, would provide a welcome boost and new variety for visitors.
