Hong Kong tourism officials welcome Singapore travel bubble, but say industry will not reap rewards straight away

Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Edward Yau expects travel agents to benefit from deal

But high demand and limited supply of air tickets likely to mean they won’t feel impact for about a month

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Cathay Pacific will fly to Singapore once a day as part of the new travel bubble. Photo: Winson Wong

Published: 9:59pm, 26 Apr 2021Updated: 11:39pm, 26 Apr 2021

Hong Kong’s struggling tourism industry may not immediately reap the rewards of the long-awaited travel bubble with Singapore next month, officials said on Monday, citing a limited supply of air tickets.

However, lawmakers welcomed the move, which they said was a good start towards boosting the flagging economies of both cities.

Following the announcement of the quarantine-free arrangement earlier in the day, members of Hong Kong’s tourism industry said it might take about a month for travel agents to benefit from the scheme, adding most had taken a prudent approach towards planning tour groups for the bubble.

The travel bubble is expected to start on May 26. Travellers from Hong Kong will need to have received their second coronavirus vaccine jab at least two weeks before departing for Singapore, though this will not be required for those going in the other direction.

Under the arrangement, there will be one daily flight operated by Cathay Pacific Airways and Singapore Airlines in each direction carrying 200 passengers. The designated flights, which are not open to transit passengers, will be boosted to two per day from June 10 if the coronavirus situation remains stable.

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