A Transformation of the Mainland Chinese Market in Hong Kong’s Tourism Industry

ABSTRACT

This paper analyzes the data of market size, profiles, and behavioral patterns of mainland Chinese tourists to Hong Kong from 1997 to 2018. With the economic boom and fewer restrictions on travel visas for mainland China, and attracted by a mixture of Eastern and Western cultures, the mainland Chinese market’s access to Hong Kong has been strengthening for the past three decades, leading to a transformation of the mainland Chinese market in Hong Kong. This paper illustrates how mainland Chinese tourists have transformed from an international tourism market to a domestic one based on market access theory. Because the mainland Chinese market will continue to be Hong Kong’s largest tourist source, more suitable travel policies should be launched for the sustainable development of tourism in Hong Kong.

摘要

本文分析了1997年至2018年中国内地游客前往香港旅游的市场规模, 概况和行为模式等内容。随着经济的繁荣, 对内地旅行签证越来越少的限制以及受东西方融合文化的吸引,过去三十年来, 中国内地市场进入香港的渠道不断拓宽,中国内地市场在香港旅游业中的地位已经发生了转变。本文以市场准入理论为基础, 阐述了中国内地游客从国际旅游市场转向国内旅游市场的过程。由于内地市场仍将是香港最大的旅游客源, 因此香港应推出更适合的旅游政策, 以促进其旅游业的持续发展。

KEYWORDS:

• Mainland Chinese market
• domestic tourism
• market access
• Hong Kong
• market transformation

关键词:

• 中国内地市场
• 国内旅游
• 市场准入
• 香港
• 市场转型

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Naipeng (Tom) Bu

Naipeng (Tom) Bu is Lecturer in Business School at Shandong University, Shandong, China. His research covers tourism planning and development, destination image and competitiveness (E-mail: [email protected]).

Xiaoxiao Fu

Xiaoxiao Fu is Associate Professor of Rosen College of Hospitality Management at University of Central Florida, USA. Her research expertise includes consumer experience and well-being in tourism and hospitality, and culture and emerging markets (E-mail: [email protected]).

Haiyan Kong

Haiyan Kong is Professor in Business School at Shandong University, Shandong, China. Her research interest includes tourism management, human resource management, and tourism operation and development (E-mail: [email protected]).

Fevzi Okumus

Fevzi Okumus is Professor of Rosen College of Hospitality Management at University of Central Florida, USA. His research areas include competitive advantage, sustainability and green practices, strategy implementation, knowledge management, hotel/lodging management, crisis management, destination marketing, information technology and developing countries. He is also Visiting Chair Professor of School of Hospitality Management at National Kaohsiung University of Hospitality and Tourism, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan (E-mail: [email protected]).