By Mila Novita
Copyright tempo
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – The Hong Kong International Airport has introduced free transit tours for passengers to explore the city’s attractions. Travelers will be taken to cultural landmarks and enjoy iconic harbor views.According to The Standard, the free transit tours offer three route options. Two routes were available at the program’s launch last week. The first tour, departing in the afternoon, takes passengers to Wong Tai Sin Temple and the bustling Pei Ho Street in Sham Shui Po to immerse themselves in the local culture.The second tour, in the evening, visits the West Kowloon Cultural District and the Avenue of Stars in Tsim Sha Tsui to enjoy the stunning night skyline of Victoria Harbour.The third route, which explores Lantau Island and Sunny Bay, is scheduled to open in December, weather permitting.Minimum Transit of 7 HoursThe CEO of the Hong Kong Airport Authority, Vivian Cheung Kar-fay, stated that this new initiative, organized in collaboration with China’s largest online travel agency, Trip.com, is designed for passengers with transit of more than seven hours.”This initiative marks just the beginning. We are actively developing further enhancements for the transfer passenger … including curating, shopping, experiential dining, wellness and cultural activities,” she said, as reported by Bangkok Post.The daily free tours are limited to 20 people per day and are intended for transit passengers to experience the unique charm of Hong Kong within a four-hour timeframe.Chapman Fong Shui-man, the hub development director of the authority, stated their hope that these tours will attract the interest of transit passengers in Hong Kong and encourage them to promote the city through word of mouth.”I hope that through this experience, transit passengers can choose Hong Kong as their next destination and inject vitality into Hong Kong’s economy,” he added.He also mentioned that this new service can reach 5.5 million transit passengers who spend more than seven hours in Hong Kong each year.Hong Kong is a transit hub in Asia, with approximately 50,000 passengers transiting through Hong Kong daily, 30 percent of whom have a transit period of more than seven hours.No Cost for TravelersEddy Yip, the director of product and marketing at Trip.com, said they launched this service in Hong Kong after introducing similar services in Beijing and Shanghai. In both cities, they received over 14,000 transit passengers in the past year.The tour schedules are tailored to peak transit periods and include free round-trip transportation, professional English-speaking guides, and tour services provided by Trip.com. Trip.com fully covers the operational costs for all transit tours.To participate in these tours, travelers must have a valid visa or meet the entry requirements set by the Hong Kong government. Eligible transfer passengers can book the service online before departing to Hong Kong or register directly at the company’s booking counter at the airport upon arrival. Due to limited quotas, it is first-come, first-served.Editor’s Choice: 10 Most Beautiful Fall Destinations Around the WorldClick here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
