Looking to extend average stay from 3 to 5 days
The opening of the new Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge may create partners of former tourism rivals. Hong Kong, Macau and Guangdong Province will all benefit by working collectively as part of the Greater Bay Area, reports the South China Morning Post.
One of the world’s longest spans at 34-plus miles, the HKZM Bridge links all three areas and enables them to cooperate on package tours that could extend the typical three-day average tourist stay.
“With more convenient transport links, they may stay in the region for a fourth or fifth day. The more tourist spots within close reach, the longer they will stay,” said Peter Lam Kin-ngok, chairman of the Hong Kong tourism board. “They can easily go hiking in Hong Kong, get a gourmet lunch in Shunde and then go gambling in Macau’s casinos, all in one day.”
“Hong Kong, Macau and Guangdong used to compete with each other,” said Guangzhou Travel Services Association President Li Xieju. “Now is the best time to join together and entice overseas travelers away from other regional blocs such as Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand.”
The bridge is closed to individual vehicle traffic, relying on shuttle buses instead. Coach operator One Bus Hong Kong Macau, which runs 24-hour shuttle services between the two special administrative regions, has already increased its fleet from 120 to 138 buses and now rents another 20 to 30 vehicles from other companies during weekends, the Post reported.
