The city view of Hong Kong

Officials from Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions welcomed the Chinese mainland's expansion of the Individual Visit Scheme (IVS) to Xi'an and Qingdao cities, starting from Wednesday, noting that the new arrangement will be conducive to the development of local tourism and promote personnel exchange between Hong Kong and Macao and the mainland.

Under the IVS system, initiated on July 28, 2003, eligible residents of the designated mainland cities can apply for certificates to visit Hong Kong and Macao as individual tourists. 

The IVS was first introduced in four cities in South China's Guangdong Province, including Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen and Foshan. The number of eligible cities was increased in the following years to a total of 49 mainland cities in 2007. With the expansion of the IVS to cover Xi'an and Qingdao starting from Wednesday, designated mainland cities eligible for the IVS have been increased to 51.

Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, director of the Macao SAR government's tourism office, said in an interview with China Media Group that last year, the number of mainland visits under the IVS had risen to more than 10 million, accounting for about 56 percent of the total mainland arrivals. Therefore, the expansion of the IVS represents strong support for Macao's tourism sector.

The expansion of the IVS to Xi'an and Qingdao, each with a population of 10 million, reflects the central government's care for Macao's tourism and economic growth, and all sectors in Macao are "very pleased", said Zhang Jianzhong, director of the Association of Macau Tourist Agents.

"The new measures reflect the central government's care and support for the Macao SAR, and the policy will further enhance the enthusiasm and convenience of travelers to Hong Kong and Macao," Mok Chi Wai, a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee and vice president of the board of directors of the Macao Chamber of Commerce, told the Global Times on Wednesday. 

He noted that the measures will promote local tourism economy and have a positive impact on hotel accommodation, retail spending and transportation.

"We witnessed the love of mainland residents for Macao during the 2024 Spring Festival holidays," he said. According to the preliminary statistics, from February 10 to February 17, Macao's inbound tourist trips were close to 1.36 million, of which 1.035 million were from the mainland, accounting for 76.2 percent of the total number of tourist trips to Macao.

Kevin Yeung, secretary for culture, sports and tourism of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) government, said the central government has all along been providing great support for Hong Kong. Further enhancement of the IVS is conducive to the development of Hong Kong's tourism and will benefit tourism-related industries such as hotels and retail.

"In 2018, the IVS tourists, which accounted for more than 60 percent of the total number of mainland visitors visiting Hong Kong, represented an important force in driving the business of tourism-related industries in Hong Kong. It is believed that Xi'an and Qingdao, having a population of over 10 million respectively, will bring along more high-value-added overnight tourists to Hong Kong. We expect that with more frequent contacts between the residents in Hong Kong and those in Xi'an and Qingdao following the enhancement of the IVS, cultural integration and people-to-people bond between the two places will be further strengthened," Yeung noted.

"Two press conferences will be held in Xi'an and Qingdao, respectively, next week, to be attended by city leaders and Hong Kong officials," a source told the Global Times on Wednesday.

Hong Kong Retail Management Association said in a statement sent to the Global Times on Wednesday that the new measures will help increase the number of overnight visitors to Hong Kong, and are expected to boost tourism, retail, catering and hotel businesses, benefiting the overall economy of Hong Kong .

"Mainland visitors have always been an important driving force for Hong Kong's retail and tourism-related industries. In recent years, visitors from the mainland prefer in-depth cultural tours, and it is believed that residents of Xi'an and Qingdao will focus on this mode of travel, which will in turn drive shopping and consumption," the association said.

"The new efforts are likely to boost direct flights from the two mainland cities to Hong Kong and Macao," Li Yunqing, general manager of visa-department of CYTS Aoyou Technology Development Co told the Global Times on Wednesday.

Noting that the initiatives will further facilitate business travels as well as individual trips, Li said that the domestic tourism industry will be enhanced as the more convenient procedures will spur up local residents' travel willingness.

"The measures also indicate the central government's support to consolidate and enhance Hong Kong and Macao's position in shipping and aviation as well as culture and tourism," Li noted.