Hong Kong offers 500,000 free flights to revive tourism

Hong Kong was one of the cities hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. By adhering to Beijing’s strict «zero Covid» policy—enforcing quarantines, border closures, and mask mandates—it largely avoided early outbreaks, only to be devastated by the Omicron variant in early 2022.

This resulted in deep economic recession and the exit of over 2.5% of its population. Business leaders warned that Hong Kong must fully lift all health restrictions to spark a real recovery, yet city authorities persisted in phased easing long after most of the world had learned to live with the virus.

A new government campaign, «Hello, Hong Kong», is set to counter the city’s frayed image as Asia’s premier financial hub. Years of political suppression and pandemic restrictions have eroded perceptions of its openness and dynamism.

The territory’s leader, John Lee, announced the distribution of 500,000 complimentary flights to showcase « the vibrancy» of Hong Kong, promising « no isolation, no quarantine, and no restrictions».

Distribution of the free tickets begins in March, with an additional 80,000 flights reserved for local residents this summer.

Even with this bold initiative, Hong Kong’s economic woes remain acute. In 2022 the city welcomed only 600,000 visitors—barely 1% of the 2018 figure. More than 130 international firms have shuttered their Hong Kong offices over the past three years, and official data show a 3.5% contraction in GDP.

Lee has pledged to rehabilitate the city’s image by « personally carrying the torch» for Hong Kong as « the world’s freest economy and China’s premier international financial centre.»

The three carriers distributing the free tickets are Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong Express and Hong Kong Airlines. Complementing the offer are « Hong Kong Goodies»—1 million tourist vouchers redeemable across multiple sectors, to be handed out to arriving visitors.