Korean travelers remain wary of traveling to Hong Kong

Hong Kong citizens hold up placards in front of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University on Nov. 25, 2019, as they show solidarity with the protesters on campus. [YONHAP]

Hong Kong is struggling to win back Korean travelers, with numbers still below those from before Covid-19 as the special administrative region is increasingly influenced by China and flight availability remains limited.

The number of passengers traveling between Korea and Hong Kong stood at 591,998 from January to May, only around 35.3 percent of the pre-pandemic level in 2019, according to data from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's aviation information portal.

In contrast, other Asian routes achieved a higher recovery rate during the same period, with Thailand at 84 percent, Vietnam at 83.3 percent, Japan at 73.9 percent, and the Philippines at 72.4 percent, all positive signs of a return to pre-pandemic passenger traffic levels.

Korean travel agencies are seeing low reservation rates for Hong Kong tour packages.

Hanatour, for example, has seen reservation rates that are 20 to 30 percent of pre-pandemic levels for Taiwan, a comparable destination in the Greater China region. However, the reservation rate for Hong Kong is still in the single digits. Modetour also said that the number of reservations for Hong Kong in the first half of this year is less than 10 percent of the level seen during the same period in 2019.

Industry insiders attribute the low popularity of Hong Kong to anti-China sentiment and the perception that Hong Kong is undergoing Sinicization.

China's enactment of the Hong Kong National Security Law on June 30, 2020, which aims to punish activities related to separatism or subversion within the region, has led to an exodus of over 140,000 individuals from the workforce, particularly in the service sector.

This legislation has eroded Hong Kong's image as an open global city and diminished its appeal as a travel destination.

A recent survey conducted by ConsumerInsight revealed that interest in traveling to Hong Kong and Macau among Koreans remains at two-thirds of the level seen in the first quarter of 2019.

“The [interest] in traveling to Hong Kong and Macau, which were once easily accessible destinations for Koreans, has been low, stemming from a resistance to China's growing influence following Hong Kong's democracy movement,” the research agency wrote in a report.

"One of the reasons why Hong Kong is not seen as a preferred travel destination, especially among young travelers, is due to the perception that it is undergoing Sinicization," one airline industry official, speaking under the condition of anonymity, said. "Additionally, ongoing political, diplomatic, and visa issues between China and Korea further contribute to this perception."

Mainland China has similarly seen a low rate of travelers compared to pre-pandemic levels, with a recovery rate of only 16.7 percent, even lower than that of Hong Kong. Additionally, the recovery rate for the Myanmar route, impacted by the ongoing turmoil after a military coup in February 2021, stands at a mere 36.4 percent.

Limited flight availability is another factor contributing to the decline in the popularity of the Hong Kong route, as airlines have reduced operations, resulting in a slower rebound in demand.

Korean Air Lines, for example, used to have five daily flights, or 35 flights per week, on the Korea-Hong Kong route in 2019. Although it has increased the frequency to two daily flights, or 14 flights per week, since July, it still falls short of pre-pandemic levels.

Asiana Airlines, which used to operate two daily flights, or 14 flights per week, to Hong Kong, now only operates seven.

"The slower recovery of ground handling in Hong Kong compared to the expansion of airline services has had an impact," according to another airline industry official, who asked for anonymity. "As a foreign airline, we have to make contracts with a local company for landing and takeoff procedures at the local airport, but there have been difficulties in securing sufficient local support, particularly in destinations like Hong Kong."

But optimism remains, with carriers expected to increase the number of flights soon.

Asiana Airlines, for instance, will increase its frequency of flights on the Hong Kong route from 7 to 11 weekly flights starting from July 14, and further raise the frequency to 14 flights per week from Aug. 14. The airline has noted that its night flights currently boast an occupancy rate of over 90 percent.

"These adjustments were made in response to the projected surge in individual travelers during the peak summer season in July and August," a spokesperson from Asiana Airlines said.

T'way Air will be the first Korean budget carrier to resume flights on the Hong Kong route from July 14 after Covid-19.

"The supply of flights to Hong Kong has recently started to increase," a spokesperson from Hanatour commented.

"Countries within the Greater China region, including Hong Kong and Taiwan, underwent the pandemic transition later than other nations, and the free flight tickets offered by the Hong Kong government are applicable for flights departing after July. We consequently expect the region to demonstrate a recovery trend in demand during the second half of the year."

BY SEO JI-EUN [seo.jieun1@joongang.co.kr]