Trip to HK made easy for Shenzhen residents

Shenzhen residents can apply for a "one trip per week" permit to visit Hong Kong as individual visitors without an advance appointment.

They only need to go to self-service areas of the immigration hall to apply.

After simply inserting the exit-entry permit for traveling to and from Hong Kong and Macau into a self-service machine, selecting the endorsement category, and paying by scanning a QR code, Shenzhen residents can get the new endorsement within a minute - rather than wait for five to seven workdays.

Hundreds were seen queuing at the Futian sub-bureau of the Shenzhen Public Security Bureau to apply for travel endorsement, with more than 10 self-service machines occupied.

As of 4pm yesterday, more than 50,000 people were recorded entering Hong Kong from land ports and West Kowloon Station.

Hong Kong Tourism Board staff were seen at the border control point handing out "Hello Hong Kong" souvenirs and vouchers to incoming travelers.

Visitors were also seen shopping in Sheung Shui. Some money-exchange stores said there has been a 20 to 30 percent rebound, but that business turnover will take a while to reach prepandemic levels.

A grocery owner said her store has recently gained more customers, mainly parents of cross-border students who bring their children to buy household goods, and estimated that business will rise by up to 20 percent this month.

Hong Kong and Macau saw their first group tour from the mainland. The tour group from Guangzhou arrived at 11am via high speed rail.

Fifteen tourists in the tour group started their two-day visit at Hong Kong Disneyland by checking in at the theme park's service center at West Kowloon Station.

A spokesman of the travel service said the tour group was formed in just two days, indicating that the mainlanders were eager to visit Hong Kong.

He hoped Hong Kong authorities could distribute more vouchers to attract more visitors.

Macau's tourism authority said it received six tour groups from places including Guangdong and Shanghai, involving 135 tourists.

The chairman of China Travel Service (Macau) Zhang Jianzhong, who was in charge of receiving tourists, said mainland tour groups visiting Macau would help economic recovery. But tourism veterans in Hong Kong said the city needs to change its tourism business model to in-depth travel as nearby regions have opened new attractions in recent years.

Sara Leung Fong-yuen, chairwoman of the Hong Kong Tourism Industry Employee General Union, said large tour groups visiting Hong Kong might be limited for the time being as there have been alternatives in the mainland such as the theme park in Zhuhai.

With mainlanders having other choices, the city needs to change its tourism model, such as promoting Hong Kong in-depth tours, she said.

stacy.shi@singtaonewscorp.com