MILLIONS EXPECTED TO CROSS HK BORDERS

Tourism Board and local retailers prepare discounts and vouchers to encourage residents to spend money in city rather than elsewhere

Hong Kong is expected to handle more than 9 million trips by people over the Christmas and New Year holidays, amid efforts by local authorities and businesses to offer sweeteners to convince people to spend over the festive season.

The Immigration Department yesterday said more than 83 per cent of the anticipated 9.03 million trips would likely involve the city’s land-based crossing points over the two holidays, while the rest would arrive via sea or air.

The figures also showed the incoming figure would peak at 626,000 on December 26 and departures would reach a high of 549,000 on Saturday.

But a potential outflow of Hongkongers looking to shop elsewhere has pushed the city’s Tourism Board and business leaders, to offer a range of deals to entice residents to spend locally.

“Christmas is the peak season for retailers. As the first Christmas since borders reopened, we expect residents to head overseas or to the mainland, which will no doubt affect our business,” Hong Kong Retail Management Association chairwoman Annie Tse Yau On-yee said.

“But we are happy to see the government rolling out more Christmas decorations across the city, with many organisations holding Christmas markets and carnivals to create a festive atmosphere that encourages more spending.”

Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Kevin Yeung Yunhung earlier called on restaurants, retailers, shopping centres and the MTR Corporation to offer discounts and perks to boost spending.

Responding to Yeung’s call, the association said more than 100 merchants operating through 3,000 outlets would offer discounts from yesterday until February 29. The deals include discounts from outdoor and sportswear brands, transport coupons from the MTR Corporation, and offers on Christmas meals at popular restaurants.

The Tourism Board will also hand out the first batch of HK$100 dining vouchers to 100,000 residents at 10am today as part of a HK$20 million campaign to boost spending as 2023 draws to a close.

Residents can get the vouchers offered under the “Hong Kong Night Treats” scheme by setting up an account on the board’s website.

The vouchers must be used at one of the more than 630 restaurants and bars listed on the website. The first 100,000 users to select a venue at 10am will each receive a coupon and must spend it within 30 days. The coupons can only be used at the approved venues when customers spend HK$100 or more after 6pm.

Another 100,000 vouchers will be handed out on January 10.

The Airport Authority published traffic figures yesterday that showed the airport handled 3.8 million passengers last month, a 2.6-fold increase year on year.

Official data showed the airport handled 36.8 million travellers over the first 11 months of this year, an eight-fold increase year on year. It also handled 3.9 million tonnes of cargo, up 1.8 per cent on the same period last year.

As the first Christmas since borders reopened, we expect residents to head overseas or to the mainland

ANNIE TSE YAU, HONG KONG RETAIL MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION