Hong Kong tourists more likely to opt for self-drive tours in Australia, but experts warn of risks
Visitors from city advised to hire newer cars and stay off roads at night, especially in rural areas
Hongkongers are being advised to take note of the risks of self-driving holidays in Australia as statistics show that a higher proportion of the city’s tourists opt to drive than other foreign visitors.
In a report published in 2015, Tasmania’s Department of State Growth found a quarter of all international visitors to Australia used a private car to get around.
But for Hongkongers, almost half of the 219,527 who visited Australia in the 12 months to March chose to drive.
That proportion has remained relatively steady over the years, while the total number of Hong Kong visitors to Australia surged from under 150,000 in 2008.
“Self-drive tours really let you decide what you want to do. It’s the kind of holiday most suitable for people who are spontaneous,” Carmen Ng, marketing executive at Country Holidays, said. “Driving overseas, especially in an exotic country, is an entirely different experience.