Hong Kong’s Chief Executive CY Leung said yesterday that steps must be taken to lure mainland visitors back to the territory after a sizeable drop in tourism.
Speaking in Beijing after attending celebrations marking the 70th anniversary of Japanese surrender, Leung said this year’s anti-parallel trade protests in Hong Kong upset our friends on the mainland.
Explaining the context of his meeting on Wednesday with Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office director Wang Guangya, the CE said, “I have discussed with Wang what to do in the short term. And according to Wang, the anti-parallel traders’ [protests] and other similar activities or remarks had hurt the feelings of mainland visitors. We have much remedial work to do.”
According to the SCMP, Leung also warned that Hong Kong’s catering, retail and transport sectors could face recession if mainland visitors continue to choose other holiday destinations.
“We want to discuss with the business sector to see what we can do [to tackle the drop in tourists], but what’s more important is that we can show Hong Kong remains a city of hospitality to mainland and foreign visitors,” he said.
On Monday, the Tourism Board announced that the number of mainland visitors has by 9.8 percent in the past year. Retail sales have also declined for the fifth month in a row.
Leung said he would work with his mainland counterparts to remedy the situation.
Photo: Myriam Tsen-Kung/Coconuts Media
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