Business leaders urge Hong Kong authorities to step up efforts to get people to spend locally after Shenzhen targets visitors from city, Macau
- Shenzhen issues new document on measures to boost consumption, with a section dedicated to luring Hong Kong and Macau visitors to mainland city
- Aggressive move comes a day after ‘Night Vibes Hong Kong’ campaign unveiled locally with aim of reversing consumer habits and inducing people to stay out longer
Hong Kong business leaders have urged the government to work harder to ensure residents spend their money locally after neighbouring Shenzhen stepped up its efforts to target visitors from the city and Macau.
The Development and Reform Commission of Shenzhen Municipality on Friday issued a new document with a raft of measures to boost consumption, including a section dedicated to luring Hong Kong and Macau visitors to the city.
Specific suggestions included issuing travel guides for tourists from both cities, providing information leaflets in traditional Chinese and English at different venues, collaborating with various organisations to promote Shenzhen, offering visitors consumption vouchers and improving cross-border e-payment systems.
Transport links connecting tourist venues with the border were also among measures raised.
Legislator Peter Shiu Ka-fai, who represents the retail sector, on Saturday said that while Shenzhen’s measures to assist city residents were to be welcomed, it also showed Hong Kong would need to work harder to retain people to spend locally and for tourists to visit.
