A scheme allowing mainlanders to visit Hong Kong without quarantine is not that attractive, as tourists still have to undergo a 14-day quarantine when they return home, a tourism veteran said.
Chief executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor announced today that the "Come2hk" scheme will commence on September 15, allowing mainland visitors to come to Hong Kong without two-week quarantine in the SAR.
The scheme will have a daily quota of 2,000, with 1,000 each for the Shenzhen Bay Port and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Port.
However, Hong Kong Tourism Association executive director Timothy Chui Ting-pong said the scheme offers little help to the tourism industry. Tourists from the mainland are still required to quarantine for 14 days when they return to the mainland cities, he said.
"They won't accept quarantine only for traveling (in Hong Kong) for a few days and buying luxury brands. They can go to Hainan for shopping," Chui said.
He believed that the arrangement mainly facilitates business trips for people to come to Hong Kong to sign important contracts or to handle family matters, such as attending wedding banquets or funerals.
The sector hopes the scheme will be the first step for resuming cross-border traffic when more people get vaccinated.
The scheme will have a daily quota of 2,000, with 1,000 each for the Shenzhen Bay Port and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Port.
However, Hong Kong Tourism Association executive director Timothy Chui Ting-pong said the scheme offers little help to the tourism industry. Tourists from the mainland are still required to quarantine for 14 days when they return to the mainland cities, he said.
"They won't accept quarantine only for traveling (in Hong Kong) for a few days and buying luxury brands. They can go to Hainan for shopping," Chui said.
He believed that the arrangement mainly facilitates business trips for people to come to Hong Kong to sign important contracts or to handle family matters, such as attending wedding banquets or funerals.
The sector hopes the scheme will be the first step for resuming cross-border traffic when more people get vaccinated.