Hong Kong journey businesses have launched cheaper outbound group excursions this summer time, pushed by elevated flight capability amid a shift in vacationers’ desire away from Japan attributable to elevated earthquake issues.
A number of tour operators have reported that costs for his or her summer time group excursions are both decrease or have remained steady, including that well-liked locations embody South Korea, Vietnam and cities in western mainland China.
“In comparison with final 12 months, we see greater than a ten% drop in costs of group excursions this summer time vacation,” Steve Huen Kwok-chuen, government director of EGL Excursions, mentioned. “It’s as a result of elevated flight availability and transport capability.”
He added that the recognition of excursions to Vietnam had elevated by 30% to 40% in contrast with earlier years, whereas excursions to Xinjiang and the Silk Highway on the mainland had maintained sturdy reputation over the previous six months.
On the EGL Excursions web site, a five-day group journey to Nha Trang, Vietnam, together with five-star lodge stays, was priced at about HK$2,900 (12,000 baht) in June. The value for the same itinerary in July and August elevated by HK$200 to HK$800, starting from HK$3,100 to HK$3,700.
Nonetheless, Huen famous that this 12 months’s value for the Vietnam journey was about 10% lower than final summer time, when it ranged from HK$3,500 to HK$4,100.
For Japan, a seven-day group tour to Osaka, Wakayama, Awaji Island and Kobe was priced between HK$9,900 and HK$11,800, with itineraries that embody the 2025 Expo and Common Studios.
The same seven-day tour to Kansai, Japan, final summer time vacation value between HK$12,000 and HK$13,000, in keeping with Huen.
Costs for South Korean group excursions supplied by Sunflower Journey Service dropped considerably this summer time, in keeping with Moon Yau Moon-yee, assistant basic supervisor of the company.
As an example, a five-day tour departing on the finish of August ranges from HK$2,099 to HK$3,799, whereas the most cost effective five-day tour final 12 months value about HK$4,299.
Yau additionally famous a “important restoration” in enterprise this summer time in contrast with final 12 months.
“We’re assured all 600 excursions will efficiently depart inside this era as demand continues to develop,” he mentioned.
He added that whereas the price for many different excursions remained regular, costs for European excursions noticed a slight enhance, primarily attributable to alternate price fluctuations.
For the mainland, excursions to Urumqi and its surrounding cities in Xinjiang had seen sturdy demand however steady costs, as airways had elevated seat availability to accommodate extra travellers, Yau mentioned.
Nonetheless, for Japan, traditionally the highest vacation spot for Hong Kongers, Yau defined that latest earthquake issues had led some households to discover different Asian locations similar to South Korea and the mainland.
Issues about travelling to Japan stemmed from unfounded rumours {that a} mega-earthquake would strike in July, deterring some from visiting the nation over the summer time.
Yuen Chun-ning, chief government officer of WWPKG journey company, anticipated an 80% downturn in Japan tour bookings this summer time, even with cheaper flight tickets and tour charges.
“Summer time vacation costs for Japan excursions have held regular at off-peak charges,” he mentioned. “Regardless of this, travellers are reluctant to imagine dangers and are significantly cautious relating to their bookings to Japan this summer time.”
In March, the Japanese authorities reported on the risk posed by a attainable main earthquake within the Nankai Trough that runs parallel to the coast off the nation’s south.
The report coincided with social media rumours of an earthquake putting Japan in July, fuelled by predictions from a manga.
Fanny Yeung Shuk-fun, government director of the Journey Trade Council, earlier mentioned that as a result of persevering with pattern of travellers choosing self-planned journeys, the journey company business had solely recovered to about 70% of its pre-pandemic stage.
“The forecast for the overall variety of tour teams this summer time remained much like final 12 months, estimated at round 7,000,” she mentioned.
Hong Kong residents made 104.7 million departures in 2024, which was 10.6% increased than the 2019 stage and a forty five% enhance on 2023, in keeping with a report launched by the Worldwide Journey Expo in February.
