After a three-year hiatus due to stringent Covid limitations, Hong Kong is ready to welcome the world back.
Details about Hong Kong is offering 5 lakh free flight tickets to entice tourists following Covid’s isolation
Hong Kong leader John Lee introduced a promotion drive on Thursday that will feature 500,000 free flights to entice travellers, firms, and investors to return to the financial hub, according to Reuters.
“Hello, Hong Kong,” the government’s rebranding drive, touts itself as an endeavour to share “positive stories” about the southern Chinese city, where years of political repression and financial constraints have soiled its business-friendly reputation.
During a speech to business and tourism heavyweights, Chief Executive John Lee promised “no isolation, no quarantine, and no limits,” and provided 500,000 free flight tickets for visitors to enjoy the city’s “hustle and bustle,” according to news agency AFP.
The offer will begin in March, with an additional 80,000 tickets available for residents throughout the summer.
“Ladies and gentlemen, this is most likely the world’s largest welcome ever,” Lee added.
The promotion kicked off with dancers and flashing neon lights at the city’s main convention Center next to its famed harbour, with a backdrop with the tagline in multiple languages, including Russian and Spanish.
Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong Express, and Hong Kong Airlines will get free airline tickets to be issued to overseas visitors beginning March 1.
For much of the past three years, Hong Kong has been entirely shut off behind tight borders in an attempt to ward off Covid, with mandatory quarantine of up to three weeks for arrivals, as well as intense testing and screening.
In 2022, Hong Kong would get only 6,00,000 visitors, representing less than 1% of the total in 2018. Over the last three years, more than 130 multinational corporations have closed their Hong Kong headquarters, while a recent study of 253 Japanese companies revealed that retaining excellent personnel was their top priority.
More than 140,000 people quit Hong Kong’s labour force last year, when the economy fell by 3.5%, according to government estimates.
