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Coronavirus: first Hong Kong tour group to Europe in over a year sets off, but travel industry not expecting recovery to start
- Small tour group and guide fully vaccinated and tested positive for antibodies before departing for Europe on Saturday, agency boss says
- Local health expert also warns people to avoid unnecessary travel overseas as Delta variant of virus is rampaging through some countries
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The first Hong Kong tour group to Europe in more than 16 months set off over the weekend but industry insiders doubt it marks the start of a recovery for travel agents amid a Covid-19 resurgence in several countries.
A local health expert also warned people to avoid unnecessary travel overseas as the Delta variant of the coronavirus was rampaging through Southeast Asia and Europe.
The group would not visit Britain, which relaxed travel restrictions on Monday for Hong Kong visitors by waiving compulsory quarantine, a source said. With England also loosening most social-distancing rules including not requiring people to wear masks, the risks for returnees to Hong Kong are higher.
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Miramar Travel general manager Alex Lee Chun-ting told the Post a small tour group and their guide were fully vaccinated and tested positive for antibodies before departing for Europe on Saturday. He said they would have to undergo hotel quarantine upon returning to the city.
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“It’s the first tour package we have had since late February last year when the coronavirus pandemic spread and borders closed everywhere,” said Lee, who declined to give the number of people on the tour and their itinerary due to privacy reasons.
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