Local tour agency EGL Tours has to organize additional tours to Shenzhen's Sam's Club after Hongkongers showed their eagerness to cross the border for their Lunar New Year shopping.

The agency's executive director Steve Huen Kwok-chuen said over 3,000 customers have already enrolled to the tours - which costs them HK$429 for two days - and all 50 tours setting off in January have already been full.

The agency therefore decided to roll out more tours in order to cater for the urgent need of Hongkongers to do their Lunar New Year shopping.

The newly launched two-day Huizhou tour will also cost participants HK$429, including a 260 yuan (HK$285) one-year Sam's Club membership card per two people.

Each traveler can get a discount of HK$150 if they already possess a membership card.

The travel agency said the new package will maximize the time to no less than half a day for clients to shop at Sam's Club, while each group member will be provided with a reserved space for a 29-inch suitcase.

Apart from visiting Sam's Club, the itinerary includes visiting three popular tourist attractions - the rural flower field, the Guanlan Print Village and the museum about Hakka Culture.

The membership-only warehouse supermarket Sam's Club has become a popular destination for Hongkongers with its low prices and customized products.

A staff member at a Shenzhen Sam's Club said the number of Hong Kong consumers has been increasing since July and August last year, most of whom bring suitcases or large backpacks.

To facilitate consumers, in October last year, cross border coach company TIL China Link introduced an express line from Hong Kong to the Qianhai Sam's Club.

Courier company SF Express also launched a "Shenzhen to Hong Kong Half-day Delivery" service last month, allowing Hong Kong citizens to place orders for shopping at Sam's Club in Shenzhen through their store or app.

Since the full resumption of travel between Hong Kong and the mainland early last year, the number of Hong Kong people traveling northbound has tripled compared to prepandemic levels, Huen said.

The cheaper spending level, warmer serving attitude, convenient transportation and the Hong Kong dollar's strong exchange rate against the yuan are the main factors that attract Hongkongers to the mainland, he added.

Huen also noticed that young people are making up a large portion among the travelers that recently went north - many were for group meals - and hoped the Hong Kong tourism industry would put more effort into retaining customers.

"To cater to the market, we will continue to develop other tours to the Greater Bay Area as well as short-term shopping tours," Huen said.

"After Shenzhen, I believe Huizhou will become a popular tourist spot for Hongkongers, and we will attract guests with cheap tour fees which may feel cost-effective than solo travel."

EGL Tours has already signed up more than 3,000 customers for the tours.

Agency boosts Shenzhen shopping tours as LNY demand soars