Letters | Should Hong Kong be doing more to welcome Indian tourists?
Readers discuss the rise of the Indian global traveller, and Hong Kong’s efforts to boost the economy
Indian tourists tend to favour Southeast Asia and the Middle East, particularly Bangkok and Dubai. Currently, countries like Thailand and Malaysia have simplified entry procedures for Indian tourists. In contrast, entry procedures to Western countries have become cumbersome. For instance, Indians may have to wait up to a year for a US visa appointment, and last year, nearly 20 per cent of Schengen visa applications by Indians were rejected.
Countries often use Bollywood to increase their appeal to Indian tourists, employing Indian actors as goodwill ambassadors. For example, Abu Dhabi roped in Ranveer Singh last year, while Dubai has chosen Saif Ali Khan and his daughter Sara Ali Khan as brand ambassadors.
Flights from India to Hong Kong take only about six hours, depart daily and are quite affordable. The Hong Kong government also grants Indian tourists visa-free entry, although they have to complete pre-arrival registration online, as instituted in 2017 to deter overstayers.