Tourism in Asia: Hong Kong reopened this week?
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September 22, 2022
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Hong Kong could outline plans to end hotel quarantines for inbound tourist travelers as early as this week as part of a move to revive the financial and tourism sector.
The announcement could come as early as this week, with arrivals now subject to self-checking for seven days. The implementation date is undecided as it will affect existing operations in the airline and hotel sectors, authorities say.
Hong Kong, along with mainland China, continues to maintain some of the toughest Covid measures in the world, even as most countries in the region abandon restrictions and open their borders to travelers.
With people arriving at the financial hub forced to spend three days in a designated hotel, followed by four days of restrictions on some bars and restaurants, questions have been raised about whether visitors will go to a summit proposed by the bankers and the ‘iconic seven-a-side rugby tournament later this year.
” Ideally, if we manage to do this by November – zero quarantine days – it will be very helpful for us to organize these big events. said Holden Chow (pictured opposite), vice president of Hong Kong’s largest political party. ” Our ultimate goal is to get to zero days, so they can do it too step by step or gradually. “
The city’s position has so far been aligned with that of Chne with its unwavering Covid Zero strategy which aims to totally eliminate the virus rather than live with it.
Recent moves by other countries have accelerated Hong Kong’s plan to ease border measures before November. The government also plans to ease some social distancing measures, the authorities’ report said without providing further details.
Hong Kong vs Rest of Asia
Hong Kong has steadily eased pandemic restrictions since a spike in infections and deaths from Covid last March marked a clear separation from the mainland, which continues to use tight lockdowns and lengthy quarantines to try to keep the outbreak close to zero.
John Lee, has taken a number of measures to ease the city’s isolation since he was sworn in on July 1.
Last month, it notably reduced the minimum quarantine stay in hotels to three days from seven, as it faces pressure to lift the rules altogether as rival hubs like Singapore, New York and London have been completely reopened.
Hong Kong’s top epidemiologists have called for it to be dismantled, as has Peter Woo, one of the richest real estate moguls in the city.
The city said last week that Covid-19 positive arriving travelers can stay in their quarantine hotels instead of being moved to isolation hotels or community facilities like the infamous Penny’s Bay.
Some potential visitors to Hong Kong’s high-profile events said they would not have attended if there was a risk of being sent to quarantine facilities.
However, limits on public gatherings remain, as well as restrictions on the number of people who can sit together in a restaurant while bar patrons must show a negative Covid test in the previous 24 hours.
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