Mainlanders bypass Hong Kong for Golden Week

"I wouldn't say Hong Kong is not attractive at all. I am saying that the travel experiences in other overseas destinations are as friendly as, or even friendlier than, Hong Kong's."

Simon Lee, senior lecturer at the School of Accountancy of the Chinese University of Hong Kong Business School, said Hong Kong lacks the kind of surprises that tourists expect.

"It only has the Ngong Ping 360 cable car and Hong Kong Disneyland, constructed 10 years ago, compared with the huge tourist infrastructure in Singapore and Macao," said Lee.

"Hong Kong is only an agent in retail sales, and the products are not produced here. Due to the high rent, no matter whether the products are luxurious or inexpensive, prices are 10 to 20 percent lower in Thailand, Japan and Taiwan. Even Hong Kong people think that it is not a good value for the money."

Hong Kong needs more resort hotels, a new theme park, more mega-events and better protection of its heritage, Lee added.

Tian Jie, a senior lecturer in the School of Hotel and Tourism Management at the City University of Hong Kong, said that Hong Kong needs to look at potential tourists from second- and third-tier mainland cities.

"Now that Hong Kong has lost its appeal among people from coastal cities and big cities such as Beijing and Shanghai, why not tap into the market in less-developed cities?" she said.

Another alternative, Tian said, is for Hong Kong to draw on its transfer-point advantage.

"We can target overseas tourists who might be willing to stay one or two nights in Hong Kong before they head for the mainland."

Zhang Jiajie, assistant professor of geography at the University of Hong Kong, said that Hong Kong has great potential to develop itself as a "springboard" to other countries at home and abroad.

"The transport connectivity of Hong Kong is well-established. Many tourists need to transfer their flights in Hong Kong, which is an opportunity to attract them to travel and stay overnight at the city." That can boost Hong Kong's tourism, he said.

However, in Zhang's words, the Occupy Central movement and the anti-mainlander mentality will have a lasting effect on mainlanders' confidence in Hong Kong, and it may not be recovered in a short term.

Contact the writers through suzhou@chinadaily.com.cn