Analyzing Hong Kong's inbound tourism: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. (December 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tsui, Kan Wai Hong; Fu, Xiaowen; Chen, Tiantian; Lei, Zheng; Wu, Hanjun
• Is Part Of: IATSS research. Volume 45:Number 4(2021)
• Page Start: 440
• Page End: 450
• Publication Date: 2021-12
• Subjects: COVID-19 -- Tourism -- Aviation -- Hong Kong; Traffic safety -- Periodicals; Transportation and state -- Periodicals; Verkeersveiligheid; Internationale organisaties; Traffic safety; Transportation and state; Periodicals; 363.1256
• DOI: 10.1016/j.iatssr.2021.11.003
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0386-1112

Abstract

Abstract: This study empirically investigates the determinants and drivers of Hong Kong's inbound tourism using data from January 2019 to December 2020. Five of Hong Kong's major regional tourism source markets are selected: Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and South Korea. Our empirical results suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic has had significant negative impacts on the tourism and aviation sectors in Hong Kong that are asymmetric in the source and destination countries. In addition, international travel control imposed by the Hong Kong government is often defined according to the pandemic situation in the tourism source countries, Hong Kong's inbound visitor volume is also significantly affected by the Hong Kong government's response to COVID-19 infection cases in the tourism origin markets. Our empirical results also suggest that the flying distance to Hong Kong and high tourism costs in Hong Kong reduced visitor arrival demand, whereas increased aviation services and tourism market potential contributed to tourism growth. These results suggest that the tourism industry and government agencies should cooperate to recover when the pandemic is under good control, so that Hong Kong will be regarded as a preferred and safe destination for travelers and visitors. Our study emphasizes the complementarity between pandemic control and tourism recovery. Pandemic control involves extra tests and quarantine requirements on passengers, more vigorous border control. These operational and associated financial requirements call for government support to the tourism and aviation sectors in the early stage of recovery to create a positive feedback loop. Highlights: The COVID-19 pandemic brought asymmetric negative impacts to the tourism and aviation sectors in Hong Kong. Inbound visitor volume more significantly affected by local infection cases than that in the source markets. The high costs in Hong Kong and flying distance reduced visitor arrival demand. Increased aviation services contributed to tourism growth. Our study emphasizes the complementarity between pandemic control and tourism recovery.