685,000 Hongkongers head out of city at start of Easter holiday
More residents are travelling to mainland China for the break because of the Middle East war, Tourism Association head says
More than 685,000 residents left Hong Kong as the Easter break got under way on Friday, even as some said ongoing geopolitical tensions had made them more cautious about drawing up future travel plans.
An industry leader noted that more Hongkongers had chosen to travel to mainland China, with the ongoing war in the Middle East disrupting air traffic and prompting local airlines to raise fuel surcharges.
Immigration statistics for Friday showed that 685,149 residents had left Hong Kong as of 9pm, including 69,671 via the airport.
The West Kowloon high-speed rail terminus was crowded with passengers bound for the mainland in the morning, with long queues at security checkpoints.
Hazel Tso, who was heading to Shantou in Guangdong province for a short holiday, said she would continue to weigh costs carefully when planning future trips as airfares and related expenses rose. She said the mainland remained her preferred option for shorter breaks because of its proximity and convenience.
“For shorter holidays, we will prioritise places on the mainland, but for longer trips we may still consider travelling further,” she said, adding that prices were a key factor.