• 11/10/2024

Hongkongers ‘heading north’ to spend proves success of Greater Bay Area, official says, as 74.6 million trips logged

Hong Kong Free Press

outbound trips rise

The rising trend of Hongkongers “heading north” across the border for shopping and entertainment proved the success of the Greater Bay Area (GBA), Hong Kong’s commerce chief has said, after almost 10 trips to mainland China or Macau were recorded per resident from last May to April.

Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Algernon Yau said in response to questions from lawmaker Kenneth Leung that with the development of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong high-speed railway and a new boundary checkpoint Liantang, it had become more convenient for people travelling across the border.

west kowloon station high speed rail border reopening
West Kowloon station on Jan. 16, 2023, the first day of high-speed rail services between Hong Kong and the mainland resuming. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.

“Under the overarching set-up of ‘one-hour living circle’ within the GBA, Hong Kong residents spending in other GBA cities or residents of other GBA cities spending in Hong Kong are economic activities that happen naturally,” Yau said in a written reply. “They are also, to a certain extent, a proof of the efforts made on the GBA development throughout the years, which have yielded solid results.”

The GBA consists of Hong Kong, Macau and nine major cities in Guangdong province, and aims to further deepen the cooperation between the mainland and the two special administrative regions. The area is expected to support China’s technology innovation and economic development.

Yau’s remarks came after Leung asked whether the government had looked into why Hongkongers were travelling north across the border to spend, and the impact of the trend on the local economy.

Looking out towards Shenzhen from the Hong Kong border. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.
Looking out towards Shenzhen from the Hong Kong border. File photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.

According to figures provided by the official, Hong Kong residents made 74.6 million outbound trips via the city’s land boundary checkpoints with mainland China and Macau from last May to April.

With a population of around 7.5 million people, that is roughly equivalent to 10 trips to mainland China or Macau per resident in the 12-month period.

The number of outbound trips far exceeded the number of inbound trips by mainland Chinese visitors, with 28 million arrivals from mainland China recorded from last May to April.

Golden week mainland tourists mainlanders tsim sha tsui
Tourists filled the Star Avenue at Tsim Sha Tsui on May 2, 2023. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.

HKFP reported last year that mainland Chinese tourists’ habits had changed after Covid restrictions were lifted, preferring walking around the city for sightseeing and photo-taking over shopping.

Yau said the changing patterns of mainland tourists and Hongkonger’s spending more in mainland China had “posed challenges” to local small and medium enterprises, adding that the government had rolled out measures to assist these enterprises.

‘An events capital’

In response to Leung’s question on how to boost local consumption, Yau said that Hong Kong “has long been recognised as an events capital,” with around 210 mega events to be held through 2024.

A Chubby Hearts balloon pops up in Kennedy Town on February 14, 2024. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.
A Chubby Hearts balloon pops up in Kennedy Town on February 14, 2024. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.

“These events have different target audiences and are in various nature and formats, but they all attract both local people and visitors from places around the world to experience Hong Kong and its vibrancy,” Yau said.

The government announced in February it would allocate over HK$1.1 billion to promote mega events and boost tourism in Hong Kong, in a move to “soft-sell” the city.

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https://hongkongfp.com/2024/06/06/hongkongers-heading-north-to-spend-proves-success-of-greater-bay-area-official-says-as-74-6-million-trips-logged/