Luisa Tam

My Hong Kong | Hong Kong people, do your job! Sure, our city is more exciting than Singapore, but in the battle for post-Covid tourists we need to be more welcoming

The provision of half a million free air tickets to Hong Kong in 2023 shows the city’s desperation to revive tourism, but competition from Singapore is fierce

Many see the Lion City as more friendly, so it’s time for us Hong Kong residents to stop resting on our laurels and make our city a kinder place to visitors

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Amy Overy, founder of tour company Hong Kong Greeters, that caters principally to overseas visitors. With the fight for tourist dollars heating up, it’s time for the city to become more welcoming. Photo: Amy Overy, Hong Kong Greeters Ltd

Luisa Tam

Published: 9:45am, 29 Oct 2022Updated: 11:16am, 4 Nov 2022

There have been some vibrant discussions lately about whether Hong Kong is worth visiting after the government revved up efforts to lure tourists with plans to distribute half a million free air tickets to the city and other promotional benefits.

Besides providing this free passage by early 2023, there will be a slew of packaged travel deals worth a whopping total of HK$100 million (US$12.7 million), courtesy of the Hong Kong Tourism Board.

For tourism-dependent cities and countries, the competition for tourist dollars has never been so fierce, as holiday-deprived people the world over are rushing to “get away” with the easing of Covid rules in most places.

The freebies offered by Hong Kong are certainly impressive, but cities like Singapore are also rolling out the red carpet for tourists. For cities like Hong Kong and Singapore that don’t have natural resources, this type of revenue is crucial.

Temple Street night market was among Hong Kong’s most popular tourist attractions before Covid-19. Photo: Getty Images

Income from tourists not only provides jobs, but stimulates the economy, creates incentives to invest in infrastructure and human capital, and encourages a city to preserve its cultural heritage and natural wonders.