https://www.scmp.com/rss/522835/feed The latest news and top stories on EGL Tours, a prominent Hong Kong-based travel agency, founded in 1987. It offers comprehensive services including package tours, free independent travel, cruises and flights. While renowned for Japan holidays, it serves Hong Kong and Macau residents with global destinations. A significant market player, EGL Tours is recognised for its resilience and customer focus, evidenced by numerous awards and its role as an official agent for Osaka’s Expo 2025. Its overall... en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Ambrose Li Ambrose Li Tour groups from Hong Kong to mainland China are expected to rise by up to 40 per cent year on year over the Labour Day weekend, with travel agents citing improved safety and hygiene as key factors attracting visitors. The agents also said that slight increases in fuel surcharges for flights to Asian destinations were not the main driver of shifting outbound travel patterns among Hong Kong residents; instead, they pointed to the novelty and wide range of mainland options. Steve Huen Kwok-chuen,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3351916/hong-kong-tour-groups-mainland-china-surge-40-labour-day-weekend?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3351916/hong-kong-tour-groups-mainland-china-surge-40-labour-day-weekend?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Apr 2026 02:30:08 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong Hong Kong travellers in Japan were reported safe by at least one major tour operator while the Immigration Department said it was closely monitoring the situation after a powerful earthquake struck off the country’s northeast coast on Monday, triggering tsunami warnings. Steve Huen Kwok-chuen, executive director of EGL Tours, said the operator currently had about 40 tour groups in Japan, including three in the northeast and four in Hokkaido, areas covered by the alert. “All our customers are... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3350777/40-hong-kong-tour-groups-safe-after-magnitude-75-quake-strikes-japan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3350777/40-hong-kong-tour-groups-safe-after-magnitude-75-quake-strikes-japan?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 15:02:36 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung Tickets from Hong Kong to many mainland Chinese destinations connected by cross-border high-speed rail services are nearly sold out for the first two days of the five-day holiday over Easter and the Ching Ming Festival. The mainland cities have become an alternative for travellers, with the escalating war in the Middle East triggering a global oil crisis and significantly disrupting airspace, prompting airlines to increase ticket prices and fuel surcharges. Steven Huen Kwok-chuen, executive... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3347502/high-speed-rail-tickets-selling-fast-hongkongers-opt-short-haul-trips-amid-war?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3347502/high-speed-rail-tickets-selling-fast-hongkongers-opt-short-haul-trips-amid-war?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Mar 2026 14:27:36 +0000 Oscar Liu,Natalie Wong,Theodora Yu,Fiona Chow Oscar Liu,Natalie Wong,Theodora Yu,Fiona Chow At least 35 flights from Hong Kong to the Middle East originally scheduled for Sunday and Monday have been disrupted following the joint United States-Israeli attack on Iran, with further cancellations and delays likely to follow. Sunday morning also saw hundreds of passengers pack Hong Kong International Airport to inquire about the suspended departures of flights initially scheduled for the previous day. The flights were primarily to Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, Doha in Qatar and Dubai in the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3345005/travellers-stranded-hong-kong-airport-some-27-middle-east-flights-disrupted?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3345005/travellers-stranded-hong-kong-airport-some-27-middle-east-flights-disrupted?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Mar 2026 05:05:46 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong Hundreds of Hong Kong tourists were in Japan when a powerful 7.5-magnitude earthquake struck late Monday night, but local authorities said all were reported safe with no requests for help received so far. The Travel Industry Council on Tuesday said that about 20 Hong Kong tour groups – with about 300 people – were in the country when the quake hit northern Japan at 11.15pm, triggering a warning of an increased risk of a magnitude 8 or larger earthquake in the coming week. “All of them are... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3335805/hundreds-hong-kong-tourists-safe-after-powerful-earthquake-rocks-japan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3335805/hundreds-hong-kong-tourists-safe-after-powerful-earthquake-rocks-japan?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Dec 2025 14:15:04 +0000 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu Hongkongers visiting Japan should purchase adequate travel insurance, remain vigilant and avoid entering sealed-off areas known for bear attacks, or they may risk losing their coverage, tourism industry leaders have warned. The warnings came after a rise in bear attacks in Japan over the weekend, prompting the closure of popular destinations known for autumn foliage and hot springs, including Senshu Park in Akita prefecture and the tourist village of Shirakawa-go in Gifu prefecture. Chan... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3332284/hongkongers-urged-secure-travel-insurance-bear-attacks-rise-japan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3332284/hongkongers-urged-secure-travel-insurance-bear-attacks-rise-japan?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 11 Nov 2025 04:07:53 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung Hongkongers’ enthusiasm for travelling to Japan is expected to remain robust even as more municipalities in the country plan to impose lodging taxes to ease overtourism, according to industry leaders. Steve Huen Kwok-chuen, executive director of EGL Tours, which specialises in package tours to Japan, also said on Sunday that the additional tax was unlikely to push up the prices of tours to the country. According to a Kyodo news agency report, 42 municipalities have already either imposed or plan... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3322988/hongkongers-undeterred-japans-plan-tackle-overtourism-through-taxes-experts-say?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3322988/hongkongers-undeterred-japans-plan-tackle-overtourism-through-taxes-experts-say?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 24 Aug 2025 14:12:31 +0000 Danny Mok Danny Mok Hongkongers’ enthusiasm for visiting Japan is expected to rebound “explosively” in the coming days and months after fears of a “megaquake” predicted in a manga proved unfounded, an industry leader has said. Steve Huen Kwok-chuen, executive director of EGL Tours, said on Monday that rumours of a July 5 earthquake had earlier caused significant concern among some Hongkongers. Many residents had shelved trips to Japan, leading to a sharp decline in tour group bookings. He said his agency normally... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3317289/surge-hongkongers-visiting-japan-expected-after-manga-megaquake-fears-fade?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3317289/surge-hongkongers-visiting-japan-expected-after-manga-megaquake-fears-fade?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 07 Jul 2025 15:25:01 +0000 Leopold Chen Leopold Chen Hong Kong travel agencies have not recorded widespread cancellations of Japan-bound tour groups for the coming weekend, despite a manga artist’s widely discussed prediction that a mega-earthquake will hit the country on Saturday. But some business insiders suggested the number of tours this summer was expected to fall by half compared with last year. The Japan National Tourism Organisation reported that only 193,100 visitors from Hong Kong were recorded coming to the country in May, down by 11.2... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3316710/hong-kong-tourists-undeterred-manga-prediction-quake-will-hit-japan-july-5?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3316710/hong-kong-tourists-undeterred-manga-prediction-quake-will-hit-japan-july-5?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 03 Jul 2025 03:37:54 +0000