Letters | Hong Kong is still worth visiting. Let’s sell it better

Readers discuss the price obstacle to the promotion of Hong Kong tourism, and a frequent travel scheme for Shenzhen residents

Hong Kong tourism

Letters

Published: 2:30pm, 18 Jan 2024

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I refer to the letter, “What Hong Kong should ask itself after New Year’s Eve transport chaos” (January 9). Your correspondent’s view that Hong Kong should ponder why mainland visitors prefer not to stay overnight in the city resonated with me. I would also like to share my recent experience of travelling with my mainland friends to Shanghai and Hong Kong.

We spent three days in Shanghai, visiting the Disneyland there. There were many accommodation options nearby, from hotels to guest houses. We chose a guest house with a Disney theme and shuttle services to and from Disneyland, which cost us about 200 yuan (US$28) per night. The food in Shanghai, while slightly pricier than in other mainland cities, was still cheaper than in Hong Kong.

When we visited Hong Kong, the accommodation options were fewer but the prices much higher. We spent about HK$1,000 (US$128) per night on a four-star hotel room one third the size of our room in Shanghai.

I had all along believed Hong Kong to be a shopping paradise, thanks to our tax-free regime. So I was shocked when my friends told me that brand-name shoes in Hong Kong, for example, were either similarly priced or more expensive than those from online shops on the mainland. They reminded me that while Hong Kong is tax-free, high operation costs make goods more expensive. Meanwhile, although the mainland imposes taxes on luxury items, many people now buy brand-name products from official online stores, which require no rent expenditure and little manpower.

However, I disagree with your correspondent that Hong Kong does not have enough attractions. Our city has much to offer – museums, theme parks, beautiful country parks. Hong Kong just needs to step up efforts to make these destinations known to tourists.

Hong Kong is an expensive destination for sure. It is exactly because of this that we need to work even harder to persuade mainland tourists that Hong Kong is a place worthy of their spending.

Anson Chan, Guangzhou

Let in frequent travellers from Shenzhen and beyond

I refer to the report, “Talks to resume multi-entry visas for Shenzhen visitors” (January 12).

Bringing back the scheme would be a way to respond to changing travel patterns. Mainland visitors to Hong Kong are staying for fewer days than before. Sometimes they even return home on the same day.

If Shenzhen residents can visit more than once a week, it may benefit businesses in Hong Kong. Our government should also consider whether to adjust border crossing hours to dovetail with the multi-entry visa scheme.

If resumed, the scheme could be tested out before it is extended to other mainland cities. Hopefully, this would go some way towards helping businesses recover from the pandemic.

Randy Lee, Ma On Shan