Tourists from mainland China visit the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront in Hong Kong on May 1, the start of the 'Golden Week' holiday. Photo: Peter PARKS / AFPThe Lo Wu arrival hall on Hong Kong's border used to throng with visitors during mainland China's"Golden Week", but as the five-day tourism bonanza kicked off on Wednesday, the queues there were modest.
"Hong Kong is much more expensive than before," said a technician surnamed Leung, 54, who was planning to visit local theme parks with his young children.Though Leung said he was staying for three days, many visitors passing through Lo Wu said they were making more affordable day trips instead. But that number was still far short of the pre-pandemic, pre-protest peak seen in 2018, when Hong Kong received more than 65 million visitors who collectively spent around $35 billion.
"I would probably save my shopping spree for Japan," Jiang said with a laugh, adding that goods in Hong Kong cost double or triple what they would in Chongqing, their hometown. The city's US dollar-pegged currency and overall high prices, as well as competition from regional rivals such as Singapore and Japan, have also affected tourist sentiment, Wong said.
Funeral services worker Ryan, 35, has been paying weekly northbound visits to the mainland for"more fun with the same amount of money", and said he was far from alone.