During the May Day travel week, Hong Kong has witnessed a phenomenon of 'budget travel', which has left residents in shock. (Video screenshot)
[People News] During the May Day Golden Week holiday, Hong Kong businesses were hopeful that mainland tourists would bring a surge in retail consumption. However, some merchants reported that while there were many tourists, it was a case of 'many people but little spending'. Additionally, Hong Kong has seen a large influx of 'budget travellers', and the 'Special Forces Travel' model has caused residents to question whether Hong Kong's image as an international metropolis has been irreparably damaged.
As reported by Ming Pao, on the first day of the mainland's May Day Golden Week, the West Kowloon High-Speed Rail Station was bustling with people at noon. Some tourists from Hunan planned to stay in Hong Kong for four days, expecting to spend around 10,000 yuan; meanwhile, tourists from Shenzhen and South Korea did not plan to stay overnight. Many visitors indicated they would not be staying in Hong Kong overnight and would just 'wander around' without a spending budget.
Even though Tsim Sha Tsui's streets and alleys were packed with tourists, some merchants still felt that it was 'many people but little spending'. A pharmacy in Tsim Sha Tsui, which has been in business for over a decade, reported that the foot traffic today was worse than the same period last year, with sales dropping by at least half. The owner, Mr Qu, believes that today's tourists are different from those in the past; they do not spend money and only engage in 'budget travel'. Some restaurants also noted that the foot traffic and sales on May 1 were better than usual, but still fell short compared to the same period last year.
The 'Special Forces Tourism' model has sparked a significant outcry among residents of Hong Kong.
According to a report from the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department on May 2, 5,700 visitors flocked to East Dam in Sai Kung on the first day of the holiday (May 1), creating a notably busy scene at one point. Meanwhile, the number of visitors at Sai Kung Bridge and Shui Hau on Lantau Island exceeded expectations, with 3,000 and 1,000 people respectively. At the campsites in Sai Kung's Long Ke Wan, Sai Wan, and Ham Tin Wan, there were around 1,100 tents, leading to a high number of campers. This prompted an increase in staff for both daytime and nighttime patrols, as well as enhanced cleaning and waste management efforts.
Reports from Hong Kong media indicate that the entire Golden Week indeed resulted in a hotel occupancy rate of 90% for the city. However, a large number of tourists were 'budget travellers,' and their 'Special Forces Tourism' model has altered the perceptions of local residents. Some mainland tourists even set up their own tents, which encroached upon urban areas, with the political and business hub of Admiralty also being affected.
Videos shared by some Hong Kong residents online show that near the government headquarters, pedestrian bridges with sunshades were filled with tourists' self-provided tents, transforming this central area of Hong Kong into a makeshift campsite. A similar situation was observed in the vicinity of Tseung Kwan O's Hong Kong City, where certain pathways were occupied by tents, disrupting residents' access.
Following the exposure of the incident, public opinion online rapidly escalated. Many citizens, besides expressing their shock, highlighted that the 'special forces' tourists monopolised public resources in an effort to cut costs, which did not yield any tangible benefits for the local economy. Instead, this behaviour exacerbated the invisible burdens on society and directly compromised the normal living conditions of local residents. Additionally, numerous individuals questioned the inconsistency in the authorities' enforcement standards, arguing that there is a clear disparity in how homeless individuals and tourists are treated, which further fueled social discontent.
Lack of Conservation Awareness Destroys Marine Ecology
Simultaneously, some mainland tourists shared on social media their snorkelling activities in the waters of Sai Kung, where they captured sea urchins. The video displayed over 30 pieces of 'loot' and even boasted about 'sea urchin freedom,' provoking strong backlash from netizens who criticised their actions for harming marine ecology and demonstrating a lack of basic conservation awareness.
In response to the backlash over their alleged sea urchin capture, the individuals involved deleted their posts and photos on Xiaohongshu and restricted comments. Some netizens expressed, 'It really hurts my heart,' while others remarked, 'Seeing Hong Kong's natural environment being so severely damaged makes me feel helpless.' There were also netizens who lamented, 'Conservation takes decades, but destruction can happen in a day.'
Many netizens also reported witnessing mainland tourists urinating in public places, entering shopping malls not to shop but to queue for restrooms, crossing streets recklessly, catching sea urchins and prying oysters on the beach, and littering. They questioned why the police did not issue fines to such tourists, viewing it as a failure of duty, and lamented, 'Hong Kong becoming a popular destination for budget travellers from the mainland is a disaster for Hong Kong.'
Many commentators argue that during the peak travel season, an increase in visitors does not necessarily translate into significant economic benefits. Furthermore, this influx can harm the city's aesthetics and ecological protection efforts. The challenge for the Hong Kong government lies in promoting the tourism industry while ensuring fair enforcement of regulations, all while safeguarding the sustainable development of both urban and natural environments. This has become a crucial issue. △
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