Homing in on the economy

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.