China News Agency, Hong Kong, February 12th (Reporter Wei Huadu Dai Xiaolu) On the first weekend after the mainland and Hong Kong resumed full "customs clearance", a large number of mainland tourists came to Hong Kong to "sweep goods" in popular shopping areas such as Sheung Shui and Tsim Sha Tsui. ", and the first "point-to-point tour group" to visit Hong Kong, which will make Hong Kong's tourism and retail market more active, and will also drive the economic recovery of other industries.

Data map: The picture shows passengers going to Hong Kong leaving the country in an orderly manner.

Photo/China News Agency reporter Chen Wen

　　The two places resumed full "customs clearance" on February 6 this year, and it is expected that this will inject a "boosting shot" into Hong Kong's economic recovery.

According to the latest data from the Immigration Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, in the six days after the full "customs clearance", the number of mainland visitors has increased day by day, with a total of about 193,000 visitors. On Saturday (11th) alone, there were nearly 50,000 visitors, the highest of the week. .

On the same day, reporters from China News Agency visited multiple districts in Hong Kong to learn about the consumption of mainland tourists in Hong Kong.

In the area of ​​Canton Road in Tsim Sha Tsui, where there are many luxury stores, there are long queues at the entrance of some shops. Ms. Zhang, carrying four large shopping bags, told the reporter: "I came to Hong Kong from Guangzhou to shop on weekends, and bought my favorite shoes and perfume. , and handbags, which cost more than 60,000 Hong Kong dollars. I will come again next week, because I have a handbag I like very much, and I need to wait for the color I want.”

　　She said: "Nowadays it only takes tens of minutes to take the high-speed train from Guangzhou to Hong Kong, which is as convenient as going out shopping in Guangzhou. But I haven't been to Hong Kong for three years, and I found that many places have changed a lot, so I spent a lot of time Find the way, find the shop."

　　On this day, the number of mainland tourists arriving in Hong Kong via the Hong Kong West Kowloon High Speed ​​Rail Station increased significantly compared with the previous few days.

The first thing they did after they arrived was to buy phone cards from the shops in the arrival hall. After inquiring, the reporter learned that most of them bought short-term "7-day phone cards" for a short-term stay in Hong Kong.

Mr. Liu, who came from Shenzhen, told the reporter: "This time I came to Hong Kong to visit friends at the University of Hong Kong. I will stay for two days and plan to go shopping. I will buy what I like. I have no budget."

　　Ms. Chen, who was walking with her mother, said: "I haven't been to Hong Kong for a long time, and I came here soon from Shenzhen. In the past two days, I plan to exchange 3,000 yuan for shopping, to buy some cosmetics and clothes. The quality of things in Hong Kong is better."

　　In order to facilitate customers to handle business, some insurance companies have opened branches in the station.

A manager on duty told the reporter: "In recent days, regular customers from the mainland have come to deal with business, such as reimbursement, and new customers have come to inquire about insurance plans. Most of them ask about savings insurance and leave their contact information. Although there are not many transactions at present, but The atmosphere will pick up this year, and we expect business to grow.” In addition, the Hong Kong Tourism Board also sent staff here to present electronic coupons to mainland tourists, attracting them to spend in restaurants, bars and other related stores.

Data map: The picture shows a mainland tour group happily waving to Hong Kong Ocean Park to play.

Photo by Li Zhihua

　　It is worth mentioning that more than 140 tourists in the first "point-to-point tour group" after the full "customs clearance" went directly to Hong Kong Ocean Park via Shenzhen Liantang Port on the same day. Hong Kong, ready to play elsewhere.

Hong Kong and Macau Integrity Travel Manager Chen Bofei, who organized this tour group, said that in the future, he plans to open more "one-day tour" tour groups to different places, such as visiting the Hong Kong Palace Museum.

He predicts that Hong Kong's tourism industry will recover to about 70% before the epidemic this summer.

　　As for another theme park, Hong Kong Disneyland, which also opened a store at West Kowloon Station, from time to time mainland parents bring their children into the store for consultation.

Disney responded to reporters' inquiries and said that the park had received about 20 industry delegations from the mainland and foreign countries earlier, and they all said they would visit again.

We will continue to publicize with the tourism industry, and believe that Disneyland Resort is one of the important driving forces for the recovery of Hong Kong's tourism industry.

　　Zhuang Tailiang, executive director of the Lau Chor-dek Institute of Global Economics and Finance at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, told reporters: "The number of mainland tourists arriving in Hong Kong in the first week of 'customs clearance' has increased, which will drive consumption and other industries. Significant growth, starting from the second quarter will record double-digit growth."

　　As for Sheung Shui, which has been popular with mainland tourists in recent years and is close to the Luo Wu Port, it was also crowded with people that day.

The reporter visited Sheung Shui Plaza and the area around Lane Street, and saw that most of the shops had reopened, and many tourists were dragging their suitcases to shop in pharmacies and cosmetics stores.

A drug store owner said that after the full "customs clearance", the business volume increased by nearly 10%, and many regular customers came back to shop.

　　Ms. Zhang, who was sorting out the "trophies" on the street, said in an interview with reporters: "We live in Shenzhen and used to come here often. Today I spent two thousand yuan alone on cosmetics and food." After finishing speaking, she He smiled and walked to the MTR station with two friends.

On the train to the port, almost everyone returned with a full load.

(over)