Hong Kong holidaymakers in Okinawa on Friday contended with depleted supermarket shelves, potential power cuts and violent weather as Typhoon Dolphin shut the Japanese island’s main airport and disrupted every direct flight home. Social media images shared by Hong Kong-linked travel accounts showed empty bread shelves and torrential rain sweeping parts of the popular destination,…
A Hongkonger has described being “quite scared” as a 7.1-magnitude quake shook Japan’s southern Kumamoto prefecture where she and her boyfriend were travelling, while the city’s travel authority confirmed that about 200 members of tour groups visiting the region were all safe. Leon Chan, 18, recounted to the South China Morning Post that she and…
The Hong Kong Jockey Club has urged the city to position the Greater Bay Area as a leading equine hub under its first five-year plan, proposing the formation of a distinctive racing circuit for both mainland Chinese and international tourists. In a submission to the government on Thursday, the club said the equine industry had…
Unreasonably low prices offered by some mainland Chinese tourist groups visiting Hong Kong are a major factor behind coerced shopping, industry leaders have said, urging authorities to step up random inspections during the coming Labour Day “golden week” holiday. The Travel Industry Authority announced on Monday that it had previously revoked the licence of Star…
Hong Kong’s tourism sector is bracing for a 6 per cent rise in mainland Chinese visitors during the Lunar New Year holiday, as travel to the city regains momentum. Tickets for high-speed trains from major mainland cities to Hong Kong have been selling fast in the days leading up to the festive period – an…
More than 650 Hongkongers on group tours to Taiwan have been confirmed safe following a 6.7-magnitude earthquake late on Saturday, while other travellers from the city have recalled feeling frightened as buildings swayed “from side to side”. The Hong Kong Observatory said the earthquake occurred at 11.05pm in Taiwan, with the epicentre located about 70km…
More Hongkongers are travelling over the Christmas holiday period compared with last year, with traditional destinations in Japan remaining popular despite geopolitical tensions, and mainland Chinese cities such as Harbin and Yunnan gaining appeal. Some industry insiders said Japan remained popular among Hong Kong travellers despite recent news of earthquakes and a geopolitical row between…
Hong Kong tourists are choosing South Korea and other mainland Chinese cities over Japan for their Christmas holidays, a trade body has said, as around 1,500 outbound tours are expected to depart the city. Fanny Yeung Shuk-fun, executive director of the Travel Industry Council, said on Wednesday that 60 per cent of Hong Kong’s tour…
Hong Kong travel agencies are capitalising on the National Games by offering package tours for mainland Chinese visitors to attend sporting events in the city this month, with golf and rugby proving most popular. Timothy Chui Ting-pong, executive director of the Hong Kong Tourism Association, said tour groups organised by his company were generally smaller…
Authorities have received inquiries from 14 Hongkongers in three Middle Eastern countries caught up in the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict, while a travel sector representative has said that tour groups from the city are unlikely to be in affected areas. The Immigration Department said the inquiries received from Hongkongers in Israel, Iran and Jordan were as…