Mainland Chinese tour groups shun ‘violent’ Hong Kong, survey says
- Tour operators report drastic fall in bookings, with 90 per cent losing more than half their income, although number of mainland visitors rose in June
- Latest sign that city’s tourism sector is being hit by the ongoing unrest
The number of Hong Kong tours booked from mainland China fell dramatically in June and July, according to a travel industry survey released amid growing concerns that ongoing unrest, now in its 10th week, is damaging the city’s economy.
The poll, of almost 1,000 tour guides and other industry workers, showed an average 74 per cent decline in business, with 42 per cent of respondents reporting a drop of more than 90 per cent. About 100 of the operators said they conducted no tours at all in June and July, and almost 90 per cent reported a drop in income for those months of more than half.
The survey, released on Monday, was conducted by the Federation of Hong Kong and Kowloon Labour Unions, to which many travel industry unions are affiliated.
The most recently available statistics from the Hong Kong Tourism Board showed a 10 per cent growth in mainland visitors for June compared with a year earlier, with 4 million travelling to the city. Same-day visitors were up 15 per cent and overnight visitors grew 1.2 per cent.
The current unrest in Hong Kong began in early June with escalating violence as anti-government protests have continued.