The recent expansion of Hong Kong’s solo traveler scheme to include eight additional mainland cities has been welcomed as a timely boost to the city’s hospitality industry, according to a spokesperson from the hotel sector.
Following Beijing’s announcement, which now covers a total of 59 cities under the “Individual Visit Scheme,” residents from cities such as Taiyuan, Hohhot, Harbin, Lhasa, Lanzhou, Xining, Yinchuan, and Urumqi can now travel to Hong Kong and Macau independently for up to seven days, starting from May 27. This scheme enables mainland travelers to visit without the necessity of tour groups.
Alan Chan Chung-yee, Chief Operations Officer of Miramar Group, highlighted the significance of this development, particularly during the traditionally quieter months of May and June, when hotels typically experience lower occupancy rates. He emphasized that tourists from these newly added cities are likely to be long-haul visitors, with substantial spending power, thus offering significant potential for Hong Kong’s tourism, hospitality, and retail sectors.
Chan anticipates that this policy change will lead to an uptick in tourism, contributing to the optimization of various sectors including hotels, dining, and retail in Hong Kong.