My favourite metropolis on the earth (or no less than what was as soon as my favourite metropolis on the earth… I’m not so positive anymore) is planning a reasonably drastic advertising stunt to lure vacationers. Nevertheless, what I’m most enthusiastic about isn’t the free tickets as such, however slightly the implications…
Hong Kong to lure vacationers with free airplane tickets
Hong Kong just lately scrapped its quarantine requirement after round 2.5 years. Whereas that’s a step in the fitting path, Hong Kong nonetheless isn’t a spot most vacationers will wish to go to for now, given the infinite testing necessities, and the bounds on motion for the primary three days of your keep.
Fortuitously Hong Kong appears to be getting ready to ease restrictions additional, and it has fairly a plan to entice guests. Hong Kong is anticipated to present away 500,000 airplane tickets to vacationers as soon as the federal government removes all remaining journey restrictions.
The federal government allegedly bought these tickets again in 2020 (presumably in assist of Cathay Pacific, and perhaps another native airways), and plans to make use of them as soon as there’s a full vacationer reopening. The federal government estimates that it’ll take three to 6 months for vacationers to return to Hong Kong in massive numbers after restrictions are lifted, so that is supposed to hurry up the method.
The precise particulars of how these tickets will likely be awarded stays to be seen. For that matter, I’m curious in regards to the restrictions with the tickets, in the event that they’re from sure locations, and so forth.
Only for context on Hong Kong’s drop in guests, the vacation spot noticed simply 184,000 guests within the first eight months of 2022, whereas in 2019 Hong Kong noticed 56 million guests.
Hong Kong planning on a full vacationer reopening?
What I’m most enthusiastic about with this improvement isn’t the truth that the federal government is making a gift of 500,000 tickets, however slightly that there appears to be a plan for Hong Kong to totally reopen to vacationers sooner or later.
It’s rumored that Hong Kong Chief Govt John Lee could announce plans for journey restrictions to return to regular throughout his October coverage handle, anticipated to happen on October 19, 2022. That’s assuming the present pandemic scenario doesn’t get considerably worse.
This may contain Hong Kong scrapping remaining restrictions on inbound worldwide vacationers, together with not limiting motion for the primary three days, and having to check for the primary seven days.
I’m positive I’m not alone in having spent the previous couple of years questioning if Hong Kong would ever return to regular by way of journey restrictions, given the affect of mainland China. It’s lastly trying more and more doubtless that Hong Kong will certainly absolutely reopen.
Not solely have nearly all different locations (besides mainland China) lifted most pandemic journey restrictions, however Hong Kong is now semi-open, so appears to have given up on a zero tolerance method towards coronavirus, and on aligning with mainland China. At this level it appears prone to me that Hong Kong restrictions will doubtless be lifted earlier than the tip of the yr.
Backside line
The federal government of Hong Kong is planning on making a gift of 500K airline tickets as soon as pandemic associated journey restrictions are lifted. Whereas that’s a cool promotion in and of itself, probably the most thrilling improvement is that it’s trying more and more doubtless that Hong Kong will elevate remaining journey restrictions within the coming weeks.
Oh, how good it could be to as soon as once more be capable of have a stopover in Hong Kong enroute to a different vacation spot. Hopefully that’s potential earlier than Alaska Mileage Plan modifications its award construction. 😉
Anybody share my optimism for Hong Kong absolutely reopening?
