Hong Kong is offering free flight tickets to attract tourists
Hong Kong has announced that it will give 500,000 free flight tickets to low-cost tourists in order to revive the tourism industry that has been hit by the coronavirus pandemic. The project to attract tourists will cost the Hong Kong government more than 254 million US dollars.
Recently,
the Hong Kong authorities lifted the restrictions of the coronavirus epidemic
in some cities. Hong Kong's major airlines are scrambling to restore flight
schedules to pre-pandemic levels.
British
airline Virgin Atlantic said on Wednesday it would suspend operations in Hong
Kong due to concerns over the Ukraine war.
Dan
Cheng, executive director of the Hong Kong Tourism Board, said, "The
airport authority will finalize all arrangements with the airline
companies." All Covid-19 restrictions for travelers to Hong Kong will be
lifted once the government announces. At the same time, we will run an
advertising campaign for free air tickets for tourists.
Airline
tickets purchased to support struggling airlines in Hong Kong during the
coronavirus pandemic; They will be distributed by the airport authority of the
city next year among the inbound and outbound travelers at the airfare.
Meanwhile,
Virgin Atlantic announced that it will close its Hong Kong office. For 30
years, they operated flights from one of Asia's aviation hubs to London's
Heathrow Airport.
The
British airline said the commercial decision was made not to resume flights
from March next year due to significant difficulties in operating flights due
to the closure of Russian airspace.
The
airline, founded by British billionaire Richard Branson, stopped flying to Hong
Kong last December. Several airlines around the world have canceled flights or
chosen longer routes due to Russia's aggression in Ukraine.
One
of the strictest corona restrictions in the world was imposed on Hong Kong
following China's Covid policy. However, to overcome the economic crisis, the
government there has announced various facilities for tourists as well as free
air tickets.
Last
month, the Hong Kong government said tourists arriving in the city would not
have to go into hotel quarantine or show a negative Covid test certificate
before boarding a flight to Hong Kong. However, within three days of arrival,
passengers must monitor themselves for possible infection.
Demand
for Hong Kong flight tickets has skyrocketed since the announcement of the
lifting of corona restrictions and free tickets, according to the BBC.
Source:
BBC.
