Sharp fall in mainland tourists sparks Hong Kong tour guide calls for relief measures
Industry union claims figures have plunged by 60 per cent compared to last year
A tourism practitioner union is calling on the government to roll out relief measures amid “freezing times” for the industry.
The appeal came after 90 per cent of 473 tour guides in a survey earlier this month expressed pessimism over the industry’s prospects in the coming year, while 85 per cent believed they would take a pay cut.
A total of 11,650 inbound tours were recorded between January and March this year, according to the union. That’s an average of 130 tours per day, a drastic 60 per cent cut from the 340 tours the city received daily last year. There were 9,300 inbound tours in November last year alone.
Ann Yu Li-hua, chairwoman of the Hong Kong Professional Tourist Guides General Union, explained that competition is so stiff she has seen tour guides secure only one tour after a few months.
She said as a result, around 40 per cent of the tour guides on the union have had to take up other part-time jobs.
