Hong Kong Giving Away 500,000 Airline Tickets for Tourism-boost

February 6, 2023 Events & Announcements

Financial hub starts international advertising push to restore its damaged reputation.

Hong Kong is giving away 500,000 flight tickets to international tourists as part of a global advertising campaign to repair the image that has been damaged by draconian virus restrictions and crackdowns on human liberties.

The offer will begin on March 1 with free flights being awarded through travel agencies and Hong Kong Airlines’ overseas offices in what officials on Thursday referred to as the city’s “largest welcome” to tourists from abroad and mainland China.

In support of the larger campaign, more than 250 events will take place this year, including the Clockenflap music festival, Art Basel, and the upcoming Hong Kong Sevens rugby competition.

Paul Chan, the Financial Secretary, stated that it was critical to “display Hong Kong’s new advantages” following the three years of severe COVID-19 measures that halted tourism and weakened corporate confidence.

At the start of the ‘Hello Hong Kong’ PR campaign, Chan stated, “Our aim is that people across the world have a correct understanding of Hong Kong.

The lack of tourism expenditure had a significant negative impact on the financial hub’s economy, which contracted by a worse-than-expected 3.5% last year.

Hong Kong had one of the busiest airports in the world and attracted tens of millions of tourists annually before the pandemic. But once the city imposed harsh virus regulations, such as a three-week enforced quarantine, it became increasingly rare for anyone to leave the city.

After Beijing implemented a comprehensive national security law in the middle of 2020 in reaction to widespread democracy protests the previous year, the city’s reputation also declined.

The free tickets program will initially target travelers from Southeast Asia before spreading to nations in Northeast Asia, with flagship airline Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong Express, and Hong Kong Airlines participating.

Additionally, visitors would receive about a million spending vouchers that could be redeemed for savings on a variety of attractions, retail items, food and beverages, and transportation.

The government estimates that giving away the tickets, which were purchased by the Airport Authority three years ago to aid struggling airlines, might draw more than 1.5 million people.

Additionally, Greater Bay Area citizens from Hong Kong and other southern Chinese cities would receive another 160,000 complimentary tickets.

Hong Kong has been steadily removing most restrictions and widening its border with mainland China, but it continues to demand visitors to wear outside masks and submit to a quick antigen test prior to arrival.

In an effort to restore commerce to the city amid an exodus of people, expats, and foreign enterprises, city authorities and lawmakers have been engaging with businesses and business federations.

In order to stop a brain drain and inject capital, the government intends to target investors and businesses through a number of programs, according to Commerce Minister Algernon Yau during the ceremony on Thursday. Later this year, Yau said, he would go to nations involved in the Belt and Road Initiative.

This weekend, John Lee, the chief executive of Hong Kong, will go to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to “share the wonderful Hong Kong stories.”