Rising hope for travel revival

The Tourism Board is optimistic on the revival of travel in the second half, expecting to see 9.6 million visitors to Hong Kong for all of 2022.

The forecast came after Chief Executive Carrie Lam announced a lifting of the flight ban from April 1. There board also a welcomed a plan on resuming social activities.

According to a paper submitted to the Legislative Council's panel on economic development for discussion on Monday, the board expects "more significant growth" in inbound travelers in the second six months and that prediction of 9.6 million arrivals would be about 20 percent of the number in 2019 before Covid struck.

But there remains much uncertainty on the number of arrivals.

Board executive director Dane Cheng Ting-yat said the first batch of arrivals will be mainly key business people, short-haul travelers, those reuniting with families and repeat visitors.

He also said the spend-to-redeem local tour program and staycation scheme will be relaunched when the pandemic situation allows.

Big events will be held to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the handover in July and Cheng said the board will partner with mainland media organizations to roll out discounts and offerings from the travel and related sectors.

The board has also shaped a plan for the Greater Bay Area by first targeting it as Hong Kong's major visitor source market before attracting travelers from other mainland cities.

"In due course, I hope that once the whole environment is under control we can slowly reopen to more visitors,"Said Cheng.

He said the first thing the board would like to do is create a "positive ambience" for Hong Kong so locals will continue to go out and spend.

"I think that would be an important part so the rest of the world can see things have been cautiously and progressively returning to normal in Hong Kong," he said. "That would give people confidence."

carine.chow@singtaonewscorp.com