HK shoppers flocking north for bargains, fun and food

Mainland tourists

During this year's two sessions — the annual meetings of the National People's Congress, the country's top legislature, and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, the country's top political advisory body — improving Hong Kong's tourism industry featured in discussions.

National legislators and political advisers from Hong Kong focused on how to attract more mainland tourists to the city with some calling for an increase in the duty-free shopping limit and an expansion of multiple-entry visas for mainland visitors.

The duty-free shopping limit for mainland tourists visiting Hong Kong currently stands at 5,000 yuan.

Henry Tang Ying-yen, a member of the Standing Committee of the CPPCC National Committee, said he hoped the cap could be raised to 30,000 yuan, saying this would boost the Hong Kong tourism industry and drive growth in other sectors including catering, hospitality and retail.

The multiple-entry visa program for Shenzhen residents should also be restored and extended to other cities in the Greater Bay Area, he said.

Dennis Lam Shun-chiu, a Hong Kong deputy to the NPC, urged greater efforts be made to stimulate spending in Hong Kong by mainland residents.

Shopping expenditure of mainland visitors to Hong Kong hit a record HK$89.5 billion in the first half of 2014. However, it dropped to HK$24.5 billion in the same period of 2023, down over 70 percent.

Lam believes that extending the operating hours of Shenzhen-Hong Kong checkpoints and improving customs clearance efficiency will provide more convenience for travelers and increase their willingness to visit Hong Kong.

The operating hours of Futian and Luohu checkpoints could be extended to midnight, and to 3 am on weekends and holidays, he said. Lam also suggested that Shenzhen Bay and Liantang checkpoints operate 24 hours a day, and for this arrangement to be gradually expanded to other checkpoints. At the moment, Huanggang checkpoint is the only land crossing between Shenzhen and Hong Kong that is open 24 hours a day.

Cultural identity

Allan Zeman, dubbed the "King of Lan Kwai Fong" — the city's famed nightlife district — said Hong Kong needs to nurture a unique cultural identity to draw tourists. Mainland visitors are no longer as enthralled by Hong Kong shopping malls as they were in the past, Zeman said. "Any type of shopping mall we see in Hong Kong can also be seen in every city on the mainland," he said.

Zeman said Lan Kwai Fong's success had been partly driven by the influx of young mainland tourists keen to "experience something different", be it flipping through English-language menus and viewing the "exotic" cuisine or trying to pronounce the names of cocktails. "Mainland tourists spent much more before the pandemic," he added.

Hong Kong tourism could benefit from organizing more "world-class "night bazaars, he said.

"Inspired by the likes of Singapore and Taiwan, let's ensure we do it with the utmost excellence. Our goal should be to create an impactful experience, setting it apart from ordinary markets," Zeman said.

Restaurants should offer customers more alfresco dining options, he said, adding this is a crucial element that contributes to a city's cultural atmosphere.

From a global perspective, collaboration with other cities in the GBA is essential for Hong Kong to develop into an international tourism hub, by giving full play to the comparative strengths of each metropolis in the 11-city cluster.

The city's acting secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Raistlin Lau, said the Hong Kong Tourism Board will continue to strengthen cooperation with Macao and other GBA cities to participate in overseas promotions.

It will also collaborate to "develop and promote multi-destination themed itineraries and tourism products that cater for the different interests and preferences of visitors with a view to attracting more overseas visitors to Hong Kong", he added.