Protests take toll on Hong Kong tourism

A group of protestors take rest as others march behind in Hong Kong, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. Hong Kong toned down its New Year’s celebrations amid the protests that began in June and which have dealt severe blows to the city’s retail, tourism and nightlife sectors. (Photo by VINCENT YU / AP)

HONG KONG — Visitor numbers to Hong Kong fell by nearly 40% in the second half of last year amid clashes between police and anti-government protesters.

The Hong Kong Tourism Board on Wednesday said the numbers of those visiting the Asian financial hub started to drop off in July as protests against proposed legislation allowing extradition to China gathered pace.

For the last six months of 2019, visitor numbers fell by 39% against the same period a year before. Overall, arrivals were off by 14% for the entire year. The protests have lost momentum amid mass arrests by police and since major opposition wins in district council elections in November.

Hong Kong’s economy fell into recession, its reputation as one of the world’s safest cities tarnished by the violence driven largely by anger over China’s perceived encroachments over rights retained by the former British colony when Beijing took control in 1997.

The extradition legislation was withdrawn, but the protest movement morphed to include demands for greater democracy and an investigation into police tactics.

Financial Secretary Paul Chan told a forum Monday that the government estimated economic growth for 2019 would fall to -1.3 percent, a stark loss for the center of trade, travel and finance.

Tourism, catering and retail industries suffered the biggest losses, with store receipts falling by 26% in October and November against the same months in 2018.

However, the tourism board’s Chairman Y.K. Pang was quoted as saying in a Wednesday news release that he had “every confidence” in Hong Kong’s resilience and appeal as a world-class travel destination. The board said it has launched promotional events and special offers covering hotels, flights, shopping and attractions.

/atm