Hong Kong firms hoping new southbound travel scheme will drive more business
Social media users are selling driving courses to Guangdong car owners while local companies are offering perks to attract business
A new scheme that allows private cars from Guangdong province to enter Hong Kong’s urban areas has brought business opportunities for some, with users of a popular online platform selling courses on how to drive in the city or one-stop application services for mainland Chinese motorists.
Local businesses are also offering perks to drivers using the scheme, ranging from parking discounts to accommodation packages.
Under the “Southbound Travel for Guangdong Vehicles (Entry into Urban Area)” scheme, approved private cars from the neighbouring province are permitted to enter the city directly via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge. The scheme, which started on Tuesday, allows 100 drivers to travel to the city every day.
Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan said that nearly 100 mainland cars entered Hong Kong on the first day. The first batch of cars entered the city via the mega bridge at 12.50am, transport authorities said.
One of the first drivers to arrive, Guo Jingyi, said the flexibility of a private car allowed her family to visit locations outside traditional tourist districts.
“Since we can drive ourselves now, we want to go to Sham Tseng to eat roast goose,” she said. “Usually, as tourists, we rarely go all the way out there, but having our own car makes it easy.”