The number of mainland Chinese tourists heading to Hong Kong for weekend trips has jumped by 13 per cent since the resumption of a multi-entry visa scheme for Shenzhen residents, but an industry leader has warned that a greater diversity of attractions is needed to keep the momentum going.
Thousands of mainland tourists packed Tsim Sha Tsui on Sunday morning, posing for pictures and taking boat tours along Victoria Harbour, as local businesses tried to keep up with the demand.
Wong Mei-tung, who offers boat tours, said she barely had a break the day before due to the intense demand for a 40-minute trip, priced at HK$150 (US$19.3).
“I noticed a significant number of Shenzhen tourists boarding. I find it strange because it was quite uncommon for them to take a sightseeing boat as many of them had visited and seen Victoria Harbour before,” the 53-year-old said.
According to the Immigration Department, the city welcomed 230,994 mainland visitors on the weekend of December 7 and 8, marking a 13 per cent increase compared with the weekend of November 23 and 24.
The visa scheme, which allows Shenzhen residents to make an unlimited number of visits within a year instead of the previous one-trip-per-week arrangement, was adopted on December 1, one of several measures taken by the central government recently to help boost Hong Kong’s economy.