Urbtix system not quite the ticket to stop Hong Kong touts
- An upgraded Urbtix ticketing facility is long overdue and making purchases for events should be less stressful, but it does not address the problem of scalping
Hong Kong’s concertgoers have long suffered frustration when trying to buy tickets for popular events.
Hours spent staring at a computer screen have often ended in disappointment, with tickets sold out on official channels and scalpers offering them at inflated prices. There is a need for this to change, and the launch of an upgraded ticketing system last week is long overdue.
The government-run Urban Ticketing System (Urbtix) can now cope with 20,000 concurrent users, 10 times the previous capacity. This may be increased to 100,000 if necessary and it should enable speedier purchases.
Customers are able to see where they are in the queue and there is also an estimate of how long they can expect to wait. The system, relying on cloud computing and offered by a new contractor, provides interactive seating plans and a new app offers a range of e-payment options.
The new system is welcome, even though the roll-out was later than expected. It is too early to say whether it will end the suffering of fans, but the technology should, at least, deliver a better user experience.
However, problems with ticket touts remain. Popular boy band Mirror introduced a real-name registration system for a series of summer concerts after problems emerged with scalpers offering tickets at greatly inflated prices.
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Meanwhile, tickets for K-pop band Blackpink, due here next month, sold out in two hours. Touts have been selling them for as much as HK$15,000 (US$1,929), 22 times their original price.
Scalping is illegal for events at licensed venues. But the law does not cover key government-run premises, such as Hong Kong Coliseum and Queen Elizabeth Stadium. And the maximum penalty is a paltry HK$2,000.
The minimum proportion of tickets to be made available for public sale – rather than through internal distribution – was recently increased from 20 per cent to 30 per cent. But there is much room for further reform. Real-name registration, at least for certain events, deserves further consideration.
Hong Kong aims to become a technology and innovation hub. The least it can do is to offer fans an efficient, user-friendly ticketing service. The new system is a step forward. Further measures are now needed to curb touting and give fans a better deal.
