Starting December 1, Shenzhen residents will be able to visit Hong Kong more freely as China reintroduces a multiple-entry visa policy, according to a report from Xinhua. This move aims to simplify travel and is expected to benefit tourism and business sectors in Hong Kong.
Under the new policy, Shenzhen residents can now visit Hong Kong multiple times each year, with each stay lasting up to seven days. The visas will remain valid for one year. This change brings back a system that was previously in place until 2015 when restrictions limited Shenzhen residents to visiting Hong Kong only once a week. The tighter rules had been imposed due to concerns over traders making frequent trips to take advantage of tax differences between the regions.
The return to a more flexible policy has been welcomed by Hong Kong, especially by industries such as retail and catering, which are expected to benefit from the increase in visitor numbers. Hong Kong leader John Lee had suggested similar measures in a recent policy address to further boost the city's economy by encouraging more mainland residents to visit.
In addition to Shenzhen, the neighboring city of Zhuhai in Guangdong province will also see relaxed visa rules. Starting January 1, Zhuhai residents will be allowed to visit Macao once a week, with each stay lasting up to seven days. This is a major shift from the previous rule that only allowed entry every two months.
The Hong Kong government estimates that more than 10 million Shenzhen residents will qualify for the new visa, a change that is expected to provide a significant boost to Hong Kong’s tourism, retail, and hospitality industries.
Despite this positive development, Hong Kong's tourism numbers remain below pre-pandemic levels. In September, the city recorded 3.1 million visitors, still 30% lower than the same period in 2018 before the social unrest and the COVID-19 pandemic took a toll on tourism. However, mainland Chinese visitors accounted for around 75% of the total arrivals.
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