Homing in on the economy

    By Su Zihan | HK EDITION | Updated: 2021-12-03 13:59
    Share
    Share - WeChat

    After nearly two years in the doldrums, providing a better local traveling experience has become the goal of Hong Kong's tourism industry moving forward. Su Zihan reports from Hong Kong.

    Put on a mermaid-tail-shaped flipper and a diving goggle, hold your breath for 30 seconds, follow your instructor, and jump into the pool. You will be able to experience swimming leisurely like a real mermaid, while photographers capture the moment you are longing for.

    Some may have even dreamed of being a "mermaid princess" in their childhood, waving her shiny tail through the waves and dancing with the fish among the coral and water plants.

    The tourism industry has gone through an unprecedented crisis from the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, causing the number of visitors to Hong Kong to plummet in the past two years. But amid the industry's woes, some previously unknown experiences have become popular.

    Founded in 2015, Mermaid Federation International — a global organization catering to aquatic sports lovers — had recorded twice as many students this summer as it did before the pandemic. The mermaid underwater swimming training facility is dedicated to teaching and offering experiences in underwater performances in a mermaid costume, as well as enabling participants to have a taste of activities like underwater makeup and fish-tail-making.

    "Before the pandemic, usually about 50 students would join our mermaid courses each summer. But this year, before September, I had taught up to almost 100 students," said Yukki Wong, MFI's chief operating officer and mermaid instructor.

    Staycations are the order of the day as the pandemic confines Hong Kong people to their homes, making them unable to venture overseas and prompting them to explore new experiences in the city. As a result, many niche places and activities have emerged, Wong said.

    The demand for travel and spending sentiment among consumers continue to grow, with increased social activities as the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government and local businesses take proactive measures to address COVID-19.

    As the Chinese mainland maintains its strict approach to combating COVID-19, including a mandatory 21-day quarantine for visitors, it's difficult for tourist dollars to continue flowing into Hong Kong. This has led to a shift in tourism to cater to the city's 7.4 million residents. Yet not every company's business has managed to stay attractive amid the financial crunch.

    In September, Hong Kong travel agency Ulu Travel launched bus tours dedicated to allowing customers just to sleep, claiming to have designed the "longest bus route in Hong Kong's history". The tour started from Tsuen Wan West, taking customers along the Tuen Mun Highway to north Lantau Island, covering a distance of 76 kilometers at a cost of between HK$99 ($12.70) and HK$399. Three types of seats were available — a "zero-decibel sleeping cabin" on the upper deck; a "VIP panorama cabin" at the front of the upper deck, where talking is strictly prohibited; and a "photo-taking cabin" on the lower deck, where chatting was allowed.

    The service targeted customers who loved to sleep on buses but were unable to get enough sleep on short bus trips, offering them "quality" sleeping.

    1 2 3 4 Next   >>|
    Top
    BACK TO THE TOP
    English
    Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site.
    License for publishing multimedia online 0108263

    Registration Number: 130349
    FOLLOW US
    中文资源在线官网| 精品久久久久久久无码| 办公室丝袜激情无码播放 | YW尤物AV无码国产在线观看 | 亚洲成AV人在线播放无码| 最近高清中文在线国语字幕5| 91精品日韩人妻无码久久不卡 | 精品无码久久久久国产| 69堂人成无码免费视频果冻传媒| 亚洲熟妇中文字幕五十中出| 免费无码黄十八禁网站在线观看| 欧洲人妻丰满av无码久久不卡| 久久久无码精品亚洲日韩蜜臀浪潮| 亚洲中文字幕无码永久在线 | 久久久久无码精品国产app| 色综合久久久久无码专区| 97无码人妻福利免费公开在线视频| 最好看更新中文字幕| 波多野结衣中文在线| 久久无码中文字幕东京热| 亚洲AV无码一区二区一二区| A∨变态另类天堂无码专区| 国内精品人妻无码久久久影院| 亚洲AV无码片一区二区三区| 一夲道无码人妻精品一区二区| 人妻无码αv中文字幕久久琪琪布| 亚洲不卡无码av中文字幕| 亚洲欧美成人久久综合中文网| 中文字幕日韩欧美一区二区三区| 亚洲AV中文无码乱人伦在线观看| 亚洲精品无码99在线观看| 亚洲AV无码一区二区三区在线观看 | 日韩丰满少妇无码内射| 无码专区AAAAAA免费视频| 亚洲AV无码一区二区三区DV| 亚洲AV无码成人精品区在线观看| 无码国产色欲XXXXX视频| 国产∨亚洲V天堂无码久久久| 99精品人妻无码专区在线视频区| 免费无码黄十八禁网站在线观看 | 精品亚洲综合久久中文字幕|