Increase in Departures Over Arrivals in Hong Kong, Marking the Beginning of 'Golden Week'
Rewritten Article:
Hong Kong's Labor Day "golden week" holiday has seen a larger number of local residents jetting off compared to mainland Chinese tourists arriving, with many locals choosing to vacation abroad. The influx of mainland tourists, however, is still significant, as they come for sightseeing, shopping, and outdoor adventures.
As of 9 PM on Thursday, approximately 213,000 mainland tourists had touched down in Hong Kong, while nearly 282,000 residents had left for other destinations. The West Kowloon terminus, a hub for high-speed rail, was bustling with cross-border travelers on Thursday morning, with some tourists planning day trips and others intending to stay for extended periods,exploring shopping and dining options.
Over at the picturesque High Island Reservoir in Sai Kung, police and staff from the Agriculture, Fisheries, and Conservation Department managed crowds to ensure order.
One among the high-speed train travelers was Jill Yao, a 42-year-old primary school teacher, who arrived at the terminus just after 10 AM following a 1.5-hour journey from Guangzhou. She was joined by her husband, two sons, aged 13 and 7, and her in-laws for a two-day visit to Hong Kong before heading to Macau.
The surge of outbound travel among Hong Kong residents can be attributed to various factors, including travel preferences, logistical aspects, and post-pandemic recovery trends in cross-border travel. While the number of mainland tourists arriving may seem lower, resident departures often take place in staggered phases over the five-day holiday period, creating temporary discrepancies in daily counts. Additionally, Hong Kong's infrastructure caters to large bidirectional flows, with resident departures typically peaking around holiday starts, while mainland arrivals tend to arrive throughout the week. [1][3][4][5]
- Jill Yao, a primary school teacher, arrived at the West Kowloon terminus from Guangzhou on Thursday morning, marking the start of her two-day visit to Hong Kong with her family.
- Despite local residents jetting off to other destinations in larger numbers during Hong Kong's Labor Day holiday, the city still welcomed approximately 213,000 mainland tourists, many of whom were there for sightseeing, shopping, and outdoor adventures.
- The West Kowloon terminus served as a hub for cross-border travel during the holiday period, with tourists planning day trips and extended stays amidst the bustling activity.
- Amidst the surge of outbound travel among Hong Kong residents, it's worth noting that the number of mainland tourists arriving may appear lower, given the staggered phases of resident departures over the five-day holiday period.
