Letters | Hong Kong can capitalise on mainland China’s tourism moves

Readers discuss the implications for Hong Kong of the expansion of visa-free travel to the mainland, and the ban on pets on public transport in the city

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Tourists from Italy pose for a photo after practicing tai chi at the Tiantan (Temple of Heaven) Park in Beijing, on July 9. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 2:30pm, 22 Jul 2024

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I refer to the letter, “How Hong Kong can deliver on its brand promise as ‘Asia’s world city’” (July 12). Your correspondent should take heart from mainland China’s moves to expand visa-free access for foreigners and thus give the tourism industry a boost.

These moves are akin to opening the floodgates of tourism, and Hong Kong now must install the hydropower station necessary to generate electricty from it. YouTube is full of video clips of China’s dazzling big cities posted by foreigners amazed at how different the country is from what they had heard before visiting, the quality of the infrastructure and the energy in general. Some are keen to keep visiting the country.

Hong Kong has long been a gateway to China. It must do its best to capitalise on the extra tourism boost from the mainland’s new visa policies to retain its title as “Asia’s world city”.

Edmond Pang, Fanling

More pet-friendly public transport needed in Hong Kong

Bangkok’s City Line started to allow pets to travel on their trains on July 14. Why are the public transport operators so slow to change in Hong Kong?