DSE备战英文科｜社论学英文—中央自由行再送礼振兴旅游经济及时雨

2024-03-19 14:00

中央自由行再送礼振兴旅游经济及时雨

2024年2月22日《星岛日报》社论

在中央港澳办主任夏宝龙今天抵港展开考察调研前夕，突传来中央同意扩大自由行城市的利好消息，形同向本港送礼。商界期望新措施能像2003年沙士后的自由行，为香港带来大批内地旅客，刺激旅游、零售和餐饮业生意，加快经济复苏力度。虽然新措施细节尚未公布，但港府和业界宜先做好软硬件配套，便利内地旅客，让其有宾至如归，愿意一来再来。

顾及内地消费料有序分段实施

政务司司长陈国基日前表示，正与内地商讨增加开放来港自由行城市数目，并研究重新推出「一签多行」措施，希望措施能尽快落实。言犹在耳，昨天便传出消息，指港府的要求已获中央积极回应，将于短期内公布。

对港人来说，自由行和「一签多行」并非新鲜事物，早已证明是盘活本港低迷旅游及消费市场的良方妙药。2003年沙士过后，香港经济疲弱，中央决定在广东省4个城市推出自由行，其后不断扩大至现时共49个城市。2009年深圳市试行「一签多行」，签证持有人可多次往来香港，令来港的内地旅客大增，但香港接待能力不足，又衍生水货客问题，对市民生活构成压力，加剧两地矛盾，导致深圳当局在2015年将「一签多行」收紧至「一周一行」。

时移世易，疫后通关复常，虽然访港旅客大幅回升，但经济复苏不似预期。随着网购盛行，改变了内地人旅游消费模式，来港不再血拼购物，而是倾向即日往返的体验游，令水货客几乎绝迹。同时，港人发现深圳涌现新商场，价廉服务佳，北上消费蔚然成风，令北上港人人数远超南下的内地旅客数目。深圳统计显示月均有550万港人北上，人均消费约670元人民币，意味每月约36亿元人民币（39亿港元）流入内地，不利本港零售餐饮业。

自由行在2003年成功迅速助香港经济快速复苏，因当时内地GDP增长有10%，民众消费力强劲和疏爽，但现时能否再起救经济效用则有待观察，因中央未公布细节，加上当前内地股楼大跌，出现财富负效应，不愿过分消费。中央在帮助香港时，也要兼顾内地消费力，假如开放自由行的力度过大，大批内地人涌到香港吃喝玩乐，不利内地经济，故相信会分段有序地将一些二、三线城市纳入自由行范围，而「一签多行」也会先在深圳重推，然后再因应情况扩展至大湾区其他城市。

尽管如此，扩大自由行对刺激香港旅游业有一定帮助。大湾区交通越来越方便，1小时生活圈已逐渐成形，居民倾向即日来回，只要香港能多办一些内地比较稀缺的文化娱乐盛事，相信可吸引更多内地人不时来港参与和打卡，即使不留宿，也要吃喝玩乐，为餐饮零售业带来更多生意。至于那些距离香港较远的城市，为了能在香港进行深度体验游，肯定会过夜留宿，令酒店业也大受裨益。

一旦新政策落实，可预期将有大量内地旅客涌港，加上港府今年安排的盛事一浪接一浪，内地旅客即使未必选择在重要节日庆典南下，港府和业界宜吸取过往经验，尽快沟通提升接待能力，确保各口岸有足够交通工具接送旅客到市区或各个景点，避免旅客要排长龙等车，产生不好的体验。当局同时也要正视「黑的」和黑店劏客问题，除了向入境旅客提供有用的资讯外，当接到投诉时，须马上处理，以免一小撮害群之马影响旅客对香港的观感。

须扩电子支付覆盖率便利旅客

此外，业界须扩大电子支付覆盖率，因内地旅客习惯少携带现金，衣食住行均是以手机支付。可是，香港并非所有店铺均使用电子支付，就算交通工具也只有港铁、巴士和部分渡轮支援电子支付，对内地旅客造成不便。业界若要在扩大自由行中分一杯羹，有必要安装支援内地电子支付系统。

中央倘扩大自由行，为本港旅业提供更多新客源，要旺丁又旺财，需要业界各出奇谋，想出新点子和推出更多优惠，迎合旅客口味，有开心愉快的体验，愿意来港留宿消费。

Another visit scheme gift - timely tourism revitalization

On the eve of Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office director Xia Baolong\'s visit today, Beijing\'s agreement to expand the individual visit scheme coverage came like a gift. The business community hopes that the new measures will bring a large number of mainland tourists as in the 2003 post-SARS period to stimulate tourism, retail and catering industries while boosting recovery. Although details have not yet been announced, the government and various sectors should make preparations to provide visitors with convenience and comfort so that they will come again.

Stages to cope with home consumption

Chief Secretary for Administration Eric Chan Kwok-ki has said that he is discussing with the mainland to increase the number of individual visit scheme cities and look into reintroduction of "multiple-entry permits" as soon as possible. Meanwhile, news came out yesterday that Beijing gave a positive response and will be announcing it shortly. 　　

Individual visits and "multiple-entry permits" have long been recognized as a good way to revitalize the sluggish tourism and consumer markets. Hong Kong weakened after the SARS in 2003, Beijing launched the individual visit scheme in four Guangdong cities, later expanding it to 49. In 2009, the "multiple-entry permits" pilot scheme was launched in Shenzhen, allowing holders to enter Hong Kong multiple times, which greatly increased mainland tourists. However, the inadequate reception capacity and problem of parallel traders put pressure on people\'s livelihood, exacerbating conflicts. Shenzhen authorities thus reduced "multiple-entry permits" to "one trip per week" in 2015. 　　

As borders reopened after the pandemic, the number of tourists rebounded significantly, but recovery was not as good as expected. Online shopping changed the travelling & consumption habits of mainlanders who prefer one-day experiential tours instead putting parallel importers out of business. Discovering new shopping malls emerging in Shenzhen offering low prices and good services, Hongkongers flocked there in numbers much larger than inbound visitors. Statistics from Shenzhen show that an average of 5.5 million Hongkongers per month visit the mainland with per capita consumption of about 670 yuan - approximately 3.6 billion yuan (HK$3.9 billion) monthly. This is detrimental to retail and catering industries in Hong Kong. 　　

Individual visits helped Hong Kong recover swiftly in 2003, because mainland GDP then grew by 10% suggesting strong consumption. However, whether it can do the same now remains to be seen as details have not yet been announced while the mainland stock and property markets have plummeted, producing a negative effect. People are not so generous in spending. Beijing must also consider its domestic consumption power. Strong measures will make mainlanders flock to Hong Kong only to weaken home economy. So, it is believed that some second- and third-tier cities will be orderly included. "Multiple-entry permits" will also be relaunched in Shenzhen first and then expanded to other cities in the Greater Bay Area (GBA) accordingly. 　　

Nevertheless, the expansion will stimulate Hong Kong\'s tourism. GBA transportation is becoming more convenient with the one-hour living circle gradually taking shape. Residents prefer to make day visits. As long as Hong Kong can host more cultural and entertainment events relatively scarce in the mainland, more visitors will come for participation and check-in. Even if they don\'t stay overnight, they still have to eat, drink and have fun, thus bringing more business. Those from cities that are far away will definitely stay overnight for an in-depth experience. The hotel industry will greatly benefit too. 　　

Once new policies are in place, there will be an influx of mainlanders. In addition, mega events are coming one after another this year. Even if tourists do not travel during important festivals and celebrations, the government and industries should learn from past experience to quickly improve communication and reception capacities, ensuring that each entry point has adequate transportation to take visitors to urban or scenic spots while avoiding long waits. The authorities must also face up to the problems of unscrupulous taxis and shops. In addition to providing useful information to inbound tourists, complaints must be dealt with immediately to prevent a small group of bad apples from affecting the perception of Hong Kong.

Expand e-payment for convenience

Moreover, the sectors must expand electronic payment coverage, as mainlanders are accustomed to carrying less cash and making payments via mobile phones. However, not all shops in Hong Kong accept e-payment. In transportation, only the MTR, buses and some ferries support it. To have a share in the scheme expansion, e-payment systems have to be installed. 　　

If Beijing provides bigger resources for Hong Kong\'s tourism, various industries need to come up with new ideas and discounts to cater to tourists\' tastes and offer an enjoyable experience. That will give them the incentive to stay and spend money in Hong Kong.

Vocabulary

reintroduction (n) —— 重新推出
revitalize (v) —— 使恢复元气
sluggish (adj) —— 疲弱的
holder (n) —— 持有人
exacerbate (v) —— 使恶化
flock (v) —— 蜂拥
detrimental (adj) —— 有危害的
domestic (adj) —— 国内的

Useful Terms

reception capacity —— 接待能力
parallel trader —— 水货客
experiential tour —— 体验游
per capita consumption —— 人均消费

Did you know?

It is understood the individual visit scheme expansion is one of three measures proposed by Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu to Beijing officials to boost the number of mainland tourists visiting Hong Kong. The other two are resuming "multiple-entry permits" for Shenzhen residents and raising the current HK$5,000 tax-free limit for mainland tourists.

Q&A

The word _____ in the third paragraph is the opposite of "booming".
" _____ permits" became "one trip per week" in 2015.
In the passage, the word _____ means "inflow".
Mainlanders are accustomed to making payments _____ mobile phones.
According to the last paragraph, Hong Kong must provide mainland tourists with an enjoyable experience as an _____ to make them stay and spend money.