Hong Kong Reopens to Tourism – But Is It Too Late?

Market vendor Mr. Chan points to what was once one of the busiest streets in Hong Kong.

"There are no tourists here anymore," he says. Mr. Chan operates a stall on Tung Choi Street in Kowloon, renowned for its vibrant night market, selling silver jewelry and scarves.

The last three years have been tough for him. Before the pandemic, his stall stayed open until 10 p.m., but now he shuts down by 7 p.m.

He’s hoping for a quick turnaround now that quarantine measures have ended, which had a crippling impact on businesses dependent on tourism.

In recent days, Hong Kong has made efforts to open its doors to the world, starting with the removal of its mandatory three-day hotel quarantine and the announcement of a global banking summit this November.

Officials are hopeful that these initiatives will restore Hong Kong’s reputation as a leading international business and travel hub, though some locals fear it may be too little, too late.

A Long Winter

The removal of quarantine was met with great joy by the residents of Hong Kong, who had endured over two years of strict pandemic restrictions.

At its strictest, Hong Kong’s quarantine rules forced incoming travelers to spend 21 days in a hotel room at their own cost, with only Hong Kong residents allowed entry.

Travelers coming from certain countries or regions with high COVID-19 cases were often sent to a government-run facility instead.

As a result, travel to and from the financial hub was at an all-time low.

When the news of the quarantine’s end was announced on Friday, September 30, travel-hungry Hong Kong residents rushed to book flights online. Cathay Pacific, the city’s flagship airline, set up a virtual “waiting room” on its website, where hold times could extend to 30 minutes.

The online travel booking platform Expedia reported a 9-fold increase in searches for flights from Hong Kong to Tokyo, and an 11-fold surge for flights to Osaka.

However, Lavinia Rajaram, Expedia's Asia head of public relations, noted that the demand for flights to Hong Kong has remained steady.

An Uneven Recovery

Although the hotel quarantine has been lifted, visitors to Hong Kong are still subject to a 3-day restriction during which they cannot dine at restaurants or visit bars. Additionally, the complex entry requirements, such as a pre-flight vaccination certificate and negative test results, may discourage potential tourists.

In November, Hong Kong is set to host the International Rugby Sevens tournament, an event held annually since 1976, with the exception of the last two years. This popular spectacle, once drawing international fans, may see reduced attendance due to ongoing border restrictions.

Although drinking will be permitted, food will be prohibited at the event. The city's government also mandates that fans wear masks at all times, except while consuming drinks.

Hong Kong's neighbors in Asia, including Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea, have recently removed their final travel restrictions, making them increasingly appealing destinations for international travelers.

Another factor clouding the city's recovery is the ongoing zero-Covid policy in mainland China. In 2019, the last year before travel restrictions were imposed, 78% of Hong Kong's visitors were from the mainland.

Too Late for Some

The government's attempts to reopen and revitalize the city came too late for Maxence Traverse, the owner of Honi Honi Tiki Bar, who was forced to close his business last year.

He explains that the nine-year-old bar couldn't survive both the 2019 protests and the pandemic. After a six-month break, he opened a new restaurant in Tai Hang, but he's still struggling to keep it afloat.

Traverse’s business is just one of many in the food and beverage sector that shut down permanently during the pandemic. Iconic spots like Mido Cafe, Jimmy’s Kitchen, and Lin Heung Tea House have also closed their doors.

Traverse was deeply disappointed after seeing an interview with Hong Kong’s Health Secretary, Lo Chung-mau, where Lo stated that Hong Kong would continue to open up unless a new Covid variant emerges.

“I cried. I felt depressed. It was really tough, that overwhelming feeling. I thought, 'Not again.' Nearly three years in a row. It’s been so hard,” said Traverse.

He believes that merely reopening the city won’t be enough to bring back the charm that originally attracted him to Hong Kong 12 years ago.

“We need to bring excitement back to Hong Kong, because right now, we've lost so much,” he added.