The title of this blog post is "GBA Sees Surge in Local and Foreign Tourists as Visa Facilitation Measures Take Effect" This title effectively captures the main theme of the article, which is the significant increase in tourism in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) due to visa facilitation measures. The use of "Surge" and "Take Effect" adds a sense of urgency and action, highlighting the impact of these measures on the region's tourism industry.

Title GBA Sees Surge in Local and Foreign Tourists as Visa Facilitation Measures Take Effect

The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) has witnessed a significant surge in tourism, with both domestic and international visitors taking advantage of China's visa facilitation measures. According to recent reports, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge handled 25,000 inbound and outbound vehicle trips on Saturday, marking its highest single-day traffic since opening in 2018.

Record-Breaking Traffic Figures

The bridge, which connects the three regions, saw a total of 95,000 vehicle crossings from January 28 to Saturday, representing a remarkable 35.6 percent year-on-year increase. This includes over 69,000 trips by vehicles carrying number plates from Hong Kong or Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR), marking a 40.4-percent year-on-year increase.

Tourism Boom in Hong Kong and Macao

In Hong Kong, visitor arrivals reached an impressive 680,000 between January 28 and January 31, representing a 4 percent year-on-year rise. Of this total, over 564,000 visitors came from the Chinese mainland, while 116,000 arrived from outside the mainland.

Meanwhile, Macao saw visitor arrivals reach 219,000 on January 31, an increase of 50,000 from the previous day. This reflects a surge in travel during the Spring Festival holiday period, with hotel occupancy rates exceeding 90 percent.

Favorable Policies Drive Growth

Zhu Chen, a resident in Guangdong, observed a significant increase in the number of distinctive cars from Hong Kong and Macao, as the influx of visitors from these regions surged. Song Ding, a research fellow at the China Development Institute, attributes this growth to favorable policies rolled out by the central government and regional governments since 2024.

Shenzhen Sees Record Foreign Arrivals

In Shenzhen, over 57,000 foreign arrivals and departures were recorded between January 28 and 10 am Saturday, representing a 38 percent increase year on year. Of these, more than 12,000 visitors took advantage of the visa-free policy, accounting for 40.4 percent of total foreign arrivals.

As the GBA continues to open up its borders, it is expected that tourism will remain a key driver of economic growth in the region. With favorable policies in place and growing confidence among residents, the GBA is poised for even greater breakthroughs in visitor throughput by key infrastructure in the region.

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This article highlights the significant surge in local and foreign tourists visiting the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) as visa facilitation measures take effect. The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge sees record-breaking traffic, with over 95,000 vehicle crossings from January 28 to Saturday. Both Hong Kong and Macao see a surge in visitors, with hotel occupancy rates exceeding 90 percent. Favorable policies rolled out by the central government and regional governments since 2024 are driving this growth.

Edward Lance Arellano Lorilla

CEO / Co-Founder

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