What a treat as HK diners feast in Shenzhen

Wallis Wang and Stacy Shi

Many locals will celebrate the Lunar New Year across the border as Shenzhen restaurants report a surge in Hong Kong customers, according to mainland media.

The Shenzhen Evening Post says the catering sector is expecting a vibrant market on Lunar New Year's Eve on Tuesday, with many dinner banquets at restaurants fully booked.

A restaurant noted a "significant increase" in business around the Lunar New Year period compared to last year.

"Reservation of two rounds of reunion dinner banquets on Lunar New Year's Eve is closing soon, as the private dining rooms for the first round are all fully booked and it is 75 percent booked for the second round," said a representative from the restaurant.

Grand Hyatt Shenzhen said 10 percent of customers who have booked a Lunar New Year's Eve dinner at its high-end Cantonese restaurant, China Lodge, are from Hong Kong.

"The trend of Hong Kong customers coming to Shenzhen for the Lunar New Year's Eve dinner is particularly evident this year, as more Hongkongers want to try the authentic taste of Shenzhen," said the restaurant's operations director, Liu Qiucai.

Liu said many Hong Kong customers generally choose to stay in Shenzhen after dinner, boosting the hotel's occupancy rate.

In Hong Kong, hotels are introducing panda-themed rooms and light shows to welcome tourists after giant pandas An An and Ke Ke were introduced to the public last month and with a pair of twin cubs making their first public appearance next month.

During the Lunar New Year period, a light show will be staged from 6pm to 10.30pm daily, while Ocean Park Marriott Hotel is offering panda-themed accommodation packages, including park admission and breakfast buffet.

The park expects a rise in room bookings during the period from January 31 to February 28 and will arrange additional part-time staff to cope with the large volume of guests.

Caspar Tsui Ying-wai, Federation of Hong Kong Hotel Owners executive director, expects a "satisfying number" of inbound tourists. He added: "We hope hotel bookings of prominent tourist areas will reach 80 to 90 percent."

However, Tsui expressed concern that the tourism market is facing fierce challenges as many countries and regions have expanded visa-free travel arrangements, with the mainland also stepping up its efforts to promote its "cross-province travel."