What is Hello Hong Kong Campaign: Free Air Tickets, Visitor Gifts & More

Hong Kong has launched an ambitious global promotional drive to entice visitors back to the city after three years of isolation under tough pandemic curbs.

Chief Executive John Lee unveiled details of his government’s “Hello Hong Kong” campaign on Thursday Feb. 2, highlighting 250 mega events set to be hosted in 2023.

The first phase of the campaign is estimated to cost about HK$100 million (US$12.8 million). Authorities plan to give out 700,000 free airline tickets to travellers from around the world between March and September.

The city’s three carriers – Cathay Pacific Airways, the group’s budget carrier HK Express and Hong Kong Airlines – will distribute 65% of the tickets.

The promotion will be staged in phases, with the first targeting Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia from March 1.

The second phase will target the mainland, beginning April, then Northeast Asia and other markets starting from May. Another 80,000 tickets will be given to Hong Kong residents and the same number to visitors from the Greater Bay Area from July onwards.

Hong Kong Tourism Board has also launched the “Hong Kong Goodies” campaign, giving away at least 1 million spending vouchers worth HK$100 each on a first come, first served basis until December 31.

Visitors can redeem free “welcome drinks” at more than 100 bars, restaurants and hotels in the city, including high-end hotels such as the Peninsula, Mandarin Oriental and the Langham. They can also receive discounts on attractions, retail, food, and transport from over 16,000 outlets.

Hong Kong has seen several new attractions open in the past few years, such as Asia’s first global arts museum M+, with a variety of events set to take place this year.

As of Monday Feb. 6, travellers between mainland China and Hong Kong or Macau will no longer be subject to curbs and quotas.

Vaccination requirements for arrivals will be lifted, although a mask mandate will remain until after the winter season, according to Lee.