Expansion of Hong Kong high-speed rail services ‘game-changing’ for tourism
Addition of 16 new mainland destinations will also meet peak travel demand of Lunar New Year holiday, tourism body chief says
Hong Kong travel agencies are expected to add more train tour packages to mainland China, as 16 new high-speed rail destinations have been added from the city, with the enhanced connectivity set to boost cross-border traveller numbers in both directions, industry leaders have said.
Timothy Chui Ting-pong, executive director of the Hong Kong Tourism Association, said that local travel agencies were pivoting to capitalise on this “game-changing” high-speed rail network as a formidable competitor to air travel for mid-range destinations, including cities such as Nanjing.
“We will be converting itineraries that were originally flight-based into high-speed rail products,” Chui told a radio programme on Tuesday.
“While a flight to Nanjing takes about 2½ hours, once you factor in the time spent travelling to the airport and arriving early for check-in, the total journey can take seven to eight hours.
“That is roughly the same as the 7½-hour direct high-speed rail journey, making the train very competitive.”
The MTR Corporation announced on Sunday that services from the Hong Kong section of the high-speed rail system would be expanded starting on January 26, with 16 new destinations added, bringing the total number of mainland stations with direct access to 110.