(Hong Kong) Hong Kong will offer half a million free plane tickets to lure travelers back, its leader announced on Thursday, as he launched a promotional campaign to revitalize the once thriving global hub isolated during the pandemic.
In a speech to heavyweights from the world of business and tourism, Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee announced the provision of 500,000 free plane tickets to discover the “effervescence” of the city to visitors, promising that there would be “no isolation, quarantine or restrictions”.
Ticket giveaways will begin in March, with another 80,000 for Hong Kong residents up for grabs this summer.
“This, ladies and gentlemen, is probably the greatest welcome ever in the world,” said Mr. Lee.
The government’s promotional campaign, dubbed “Hello, Hong Kong”, aims to relay “positive stories” about the Chinese special administrative region, where years of political repression, combined with health restrictions, have tarnished its reputation as an Asian economic hub. .
By complying with Beijing’s “zero COVID-19” policy through its quarantines, border closures and mandatory mask-wearing, Hong Kong was largely spared the virus before the deadly spread of the Omicron variant early 2022.
It also led to an economic recession and forced the exodus of more than 2.5% of its population.
Business leaders have warned that Hong Kong will need to end its health restrictions altogether before a real restart, but Hong Kong authorities have insisted on gradually lifting restrictions long after the rest of the world has chosen to live with the virus. .
Hong Kong welcomed just 600,000 visitors in 2022, barely 1% of the number recorded in 2018.
More than 130 international companies have closed their Hong Kong offices in the past three years.
According to official data, more than 140,000 people left the territory’s labor force in 2022, when the economy contracted by 3.5%.
John Lee, the former security boss, who is the subject of American sanctions for his role in suppressing the pro-democracy demonstrations of 2019, has promised to restore the reputation of the metropolis and to “personally carry the promotional messages on our prowess as the world’s freest economy and China’s international financial center.