Hong Kong is giving away 500,000 airline tickets in an effort to woo tourists back to the region, after the uplifting of the COVID 19 travel restrictions, in hope to balance back the massive impact that the pandemic had on the tourism industry. On the 1st of February, Hong Kong's Chief Executive John Lee launched the $2 billion 'Hello Hong Kong' campaign, with the flight ticket giveaway starting on 1 March.
Hong Kong received 56 million visitors in 2019, which is over seven times its population, before the pandemic began. But its strict COVID restrictions have kept visitors away over the past three years, devastating the tourism sector and its economy. The city’s GDP last year fell 3.5 per cent from 2021, according to the government’s provisional data. The free tickets, lasting for about six months, will be distributed by Hong Kong-based airlines Cathay Pacific, HK Express and Hong Kong Airlines, according to Fred Lam Tin-fuk, chief executive officer of the Airport Authority Hong Kong. A further 80,000 free air tickets will be given to Hong Kong residents in the summer, with another 80,000 for those living in the Greater Bay Area.
Hong Kong received 56 million visitors in 2019, which is over seven times its population, before the pandemic began. But its strict COVID restrictions have kept visitors away over the past three years, devastating the tourism sector and its economy. The city’s GDP last year fell 3.5 per cent from 2021, according to the government’s provisional data. The free tickets, lasting for about six months, will be distributed by Hong Kong-based airlines Cathay Pacific, HK Express and Hong Kong Airlines, according to Fred Lam Tin-fuk, chief executive officer of the Airport Authority Hong Kong. A further 80,000 free air tickets will be given to Hong Kong residents in the summer, with another 80,000 for those living in the Greater Bay Area.
