“This is something we have never seen before,” Cheng said. The number of mainland visitors fell 97.8 percent year-on-year in February to 98,804. The city’s tourist arrivals plunged 96.4 percent year-on-year in February to 199,123 visitors, the latest data shows, compared with a 52.7 percent year-on-year drop in January. In a bid to stamp out COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam has already imposed tough restrictions, including banning all tourist arrivals and prohibiting gatherings of more than four people. The tourism sector accounts for about 4.5 percent of Hong Kong’s gross domestic product and employs about 260,000 people.Ĭheng was speaking hours before the government announced relief measures worth HK$137.5 billion ($17.7bn) to help businesses and people crippled by the coronavirus outbreak to stay on their feet. The border of Hong Kong reopening, air services resuming, that is the time for us to move on and start our recovery plan.” “By that time, you could see things resume to normal. “The best we can hope for would be in June, July,” Cheng said in an interview on Wednesday evening.
The coronavirus crisis has paralysed the global financial hub’s economy, which was already reeling from months of anti-government protests, with travel restrictions to curb the spread of infection grinding tourism to a halt.ĭane Cheng, executive director of the Hong Kong Tourism Board, said it would focus on boosting local consumer spending, attracting more mainland visitors and promoting the city to new markets such as India and Vietnam and to Muslim tourists. We look forward to another great celebration, showcasing the fun, jubilant atmosphere and energy that embodies the character of Hong Kong.The effects of the novel coronavirus on Hong Kong’s tourism sector is unprecedented and the city can hope to start seeing things returning to normal by July, in part by trying to develop new markets, the head of the tourism board told Reuters news agency. We hope that both the people of Hong Kong and visitors from all over the world will enjoy this spectacular carnival, and experience the rich and vibrant festive culture of this city. We are delighted to once again be sponsoring this fabulous event for the 22 nd year in a row as we celebrate the Chinese New Year. We will also certainly show to visitors from around the world with our fun, vibrant celebrations that Hong Kong remains an open and welcoming travel destination.”Ĭathay Pacific Chief Customer and Commercial Officer Mr Ronald Lam said, “As the home carrier of Hong Kong, Cathay Pacific has always sought to promote and showcase our home hub as much as possible, while also playing our part to help develop Hong Kong into a truly international city. While enjoying the carnival, we hope the people of Hong Kong will share the festivities with their families and friends living abroad. This provides the perfect opportunity to celebrate the much-loved festival in a new way. This year being the Year of the Rat, the leader of the 12 Chinese zodiac signs, it is not only the beginning of a new cycle, but also marks the staging of the 25 th edition of this signature event in Chinese New Year. HKTB Chairman Dr YK Pang said, “The HKTB has been staging its Chinese New Year event for nearly a quarter of a century to spread happiness across the city. In addition to the signature parade, the event will feature a variety of family-friendly elements for people to kick off an auspicious new year with their loved ones.
Organised by the HKTB and title-sponsored by Cathay Pacific, the four-day carnival will be held at the Art Park of the West Kowloon Cultural District – also a first time for the HKTB’s Chinese New Year event. Rather than simply staging the night parade on the first day of Chinese New Year, the HKTB is putting together a carnival that will run from the first day (25 January) all the way to the fourth day (28 January) of the Year of the Rat. As the Year of the Rat kicks off a new 12-year cycle, the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) is going to celebrate Chinese New Year in a brand new way – the “Cathay Pacific International Chinese New Year Carnival”.