First international travellers flying into Hong Kong after travel rules eased express relief over being allowed to enter city
- City has ended entry ban on foreigners, but non-resident visitors and returning locals must spend seven days in compulsory quarantine
- Businesses urge the government to further ease restrictions to jump-start recovery
![Hong Kong has ended an entry ban on foreigners. Photo: Sam Tsang](https://cdn.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/styles/1020x680/public/d8/images/canvas/2022/05/01/4686caa0-3525-4f84-ba24-318e90a1ed7d_fb00645d.jpg?itok=Xixm-wpn&v=1651403437)
Most of the people flying into Hong Kong on Sunday after authorities eased entry restrictions in place for more than two years were either residents or domestic helpers, with many expressing relief over finally being allowed to travel to the city.
While the end to the ban on international travellers has been hailed by businesses as a good first step towards rebuilding the decimated tourism industry, some owners urged the government to further ease restrictions to jump-start the recovery.
Among the first arrivals at Hong Kong International Airport was Australian Rob Wilson, who came from Singapore to start a business. He welcomed the policy change and said he had waited three months to make the trip.
“It is good that Hong Kong is opening up to the outside world, although it may be a few months behind other countries and regions,” he said. “As the peak of the pandemic overseas has passed, it is natural for the city to reopen its borders.”
Maricel Orate, a 34-year-old domestic helper arriving from Manila, said she had been waiting for a year and a half to return to the city.
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