Hong Kong to lure tourists back with free flights
Hong Kong hopes to fast-track its tourism recovery by dishing out 500,000 free airline tickets
It will cost about HK$2bn ($254.8m; as it tries to recapture its major air hub status.
Hong Kong has started easing some Covid curbs in recent weeks.
The government is in discussions with airlines and will launch the free ticket campaign once airlines build back their schedules.
“The airport authority will finalise the arrangement with airlines. Once the government announces it will remove all Covid-19 restrictions for inbound travellers, we’ll roll out the advertising campaigns for the free tickets,” said Dane Cheng, executive director of the Hong Kong Tourism Board.
This week Virgin Atlantic announced it will cease flying to Hong Kong after serving the city for 30 years.
Hong Kong recently dropped hotel quarantine and the requirement for a negative pre-travel Covid test.
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