Over 5,000 Guangdong motorists sign up for Hong Kong’s southbound travel scheme

Over 5,000 drivers from Guangdong approved to enter Hong Kong under southbound scheme, with most visitors staying one to two days since late 2025 launch. | Contesto: cronaca

Punti chiave

• Over 5,000 Guangdong motorists sign up for Hong Kong’s southbound travel scheme

Contesto

More than 5,000 motorists from Guangdong province have been approved to drive into Hong Kong’s urban areas under a southbound travel scheme as of March, according to the city’s Transport Department. The department said on Sunday that 90 per cent of the 3,500 travellers who booked to visit under the programme have stayed for one or two days, highlighting the scheme’s growing popularity since its launch near the end of 2025. The urban access portion of the Southbound Travel for Guangdong Vehicles arrangement allows approved drivers from the mainland to enter Hong Kong’s city centre, expanding on earlier cross-border driving permits that were limited to the New Territories. The scheme is part of broader efforts to deepen integration between Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area, a cluster of cities including Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macau that officials aim to link more closely through transport, trade, and tourism. The Transport Department described the scheme as operating smoothly, with no major congestion or safety issues reported at border checkpoints. The programme grants access to a set number of vehicles per day, and officials have not indicated any immediate plans to raise the cap, though demand appears strong. The approval figure of over 5,000 drivers suggests a steady uptake since the scheme’s rollout, with many motorists taking advantage of the ability to drive directly into urban districts such as Kowloon and Hong Kong Island. Background on the scheme shows it was designed to boost cross-border travel and economic activity, particularly in retail and hospitality sectors that have seen slower recovery from the pandemic. Hong Kong’s tourism industry has been courting mainland visitors, and the ability to drive into the city offers an alternative to train or bus travel, which can be crowded during peak periods. The one- to two-day stays reported by most visitors indicate a pattern of short trips, likely for shopping, dining, or business, rather than extended holidays. The scheme’s popularity also reflects broader trends in the Greater Bay Area, where cross-border infrastructure such as the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge and high-speed rail links have reduced...

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Categoria: cronaca