“As a practitioner in the tourism trade, we see the business logic and opportunity for delving into different communities.”
Smaller merchants, like 118-year-old preserved beancurd shop Liu Ma Kee, have reaped the benefits.
Since China’s reopening, it has made 30 per cent more in sales.
Owner Liu May Tsoi said: “We run a family business. When tourists come in, they tend to chat with us. We want our visitors to feel like home. This feeling is more important when it comes to the development of the city.”
OFF THE BEATEN PATH
Trips to Cheung Chau, an island long seen as a quiet escape away from Hong Kong, have also become more popular.
Travellers have been posting about their adventures to local streets as well as hikes that are off the beaten path on Chinese social media app “Xiao Hong Shu”.
When CNA made the trip to the island, even on a weekday, the ferry – the only way to get to the island southwest of Hong Kong – was nearly at full capacity.
Many of the visitors were from mainland China. Some were there to experience “more authentic and traditional” aspects of the country.
SOME BUSINESSES LAGGING
While some have benefitted, others are struggling to find their space in a new market.
Taipa Village across the sea in Macao is a feast for the senses – the smell of pork chop buns, and Portuguese egg tarts, and the buzz of snaking queues weaving into the next.
Source: CNA
