Beginning tomorrow, March 3, the Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) is giving away 30,000 tickets to residents in the Philippines as part of its “Hello Hong Kong” campaign enticing more Filipinos to visit the former British colony.
“Hong Kong has fully opened up and we are eager to welcome visitors from different parts of the world. Travelers visiting Hong Kong are no longer required to have received Covid-19 vaccination, or undergo testing or quarantine upon arrival,” Vivian Cheung, Chief Operating Officer of AAHK said.
“And from today, wearing a face mask is no longer mandatory in Hong Kong. At Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA), the terminal has been extensively refurbished, with various new services and facilities providing passengers a brand new airport experience,” she added.
Cheung targets to restore 80 percent of its tourists arrivals by end of the year and 100 percent by 2024.
Distributed in phases by Hong Kong’s three home-based airlines: Cathay Pacific Airways, Hong Kong Express, and Hong Kong Airlines, the campaign started in March 2023 by giving away some 135,000 tickets in Southeast Asia markets, including the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Cambodia and Indonesia.
About 30,000 tickets will be given to residents in the Philippines via promotional activities starting tomorrow, March 3. After the Southeast Asia markets, the campaign will continue in Northeast Asia, Mainland China and other markets.
Data from the Hong Kong Tourism Board show a total 18,705 Filipinos visited Hong Kong in January this year, up 24,840 percent compared to the 75 passengers in the same period in 2022.
In 2022, the total Filipinos visited Hong Kong reached 21,046, higher by 417.7 percent from 4,065 Filipinos in 2021.
AAHK will be giving away a total of 500,000 free tickets in Hong Kong’s major passenger markets under its “World of Winners”, campaign.
The free tickets were sponsored by AAHK in 2020 as part of a package of relief measures for Hong Kong’s aviation industry during the pandemic. Through the sponsorship AAHK provided liquidity support to the home-based carriers upfront, with a plan for airlines to use the tickets for promoting traffic recovery when the pandemic subsides.
Hong Kong International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world and an international aviation hub, connecting with over 220 destinations worldwide by over 120 airlines. HKIA is also conveniently connected to the Greater Bay Area in mainland China through land and sea transports.
