Biggest Welcome Ever: Hong Kong Offers 5 Lakh Free Flight Tickets To Revive Tourism After Covid Hiatus

With the global promotional campaign “Hello Hong Kong” launched, Hong Kong is sending its greatest welcome to the world with 500,000 free air tickets.

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New Delhi: After a three-year-long hiatus, Hong Kong is all set to welcome tourists. With the global promotional campaign “Hello Hong Kong” launched today, Hong Kong is sending its greatest welcome to the world with 500,000 free air tickets. Hong Kong was heavily impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic for the past three years with a mandatory quarantine of up to three weeks for arrivals and strict curbs.

Hong Kong leader John Lee on Thursday unveiled a promotion package that will include 5,00,000 free flights to lure visitors, businesses, and investors back, as reported by the news agency Reuters. The rebranding campaign of the government, “Hello, Hong Kong”, is an effort to tell “good stories” about the southern Chinese city. 

Along with free air tickets, Hong Kong is also providing city-wide offers covering “Hong Kong Goodies” visitor consumption vouchers, to attract travellers to come to experience Hong Kong’s diverse appeals. According to the officials, Airlines Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong Express, and Hong Kong Airlines will be receiving free tickets which will be distributed to overseas visitors for six months starting March 1.

Dr. Pang Yiu-kai, Chairman of the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), said “Hong Kong is back on the map for global travellers, with more excitement to offer than ever before. We are extending the biggest welcome to the world through the ‘Hello Hong Kong’ campaign, inviting friends from everywhere as they return to one of the world’s greatest tourism destinations. I am confident that Hong Kong’s vibrant east-meets-west culture, together with our iconic and brand-new attractions and immersive experiences, will attract travellers back for an epic, unforgettable journey,” as the news agency PTI quoted.

Chief Executive John Lee announced 5,00,000 free air tickets for visitors to experience the city's "hustle and bustle", as reported by news agency AFP. Lee called it the world’s biggest welcome ever and promised "no isolation, no quarantine, and no restrictions" during a speech to business and tourism heavyweights.

Mr. Jack So, Chairman of Airport Authority Hong Kong said, “These tickets were bought at the worst time of the pandemic, showing our confidence in the future of Hong Kong’s aviation industry. The campaign will generate a multiplier effect on boosting air traffic and enormous publicity for Hong Kong. Since the relaxation of travel restrictions and quarantine requirements for inbound travellers last year, passenger traffic at the airport HKIA has started to pick up, especially in the last quarter. We also have had a good start in 2023 with the resumption of normal travel with the Mainland. HKIA has always been a major international aviation hub. We are confident that passenger traffic will continue to rise,” as quoted by PTI.

The campaign was launched with dancers  and flashing neon lights in the city's main convention Centre. In addition, Hong Kong will host a year-round calendar of more than 250 events and festivals across 2023. With its peerless facilities, event spaces, and networking opportunities, Hong Kong has more than 100 international MICE events planned for 2023, PTI reported. In 2022, Hong Kong welcomed only 6,00,000 visitors which is less than one percent as compared to figures in 2018.