Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Sees Surge in Local and Foreign Tourists Favorable Policies Drive Increase in People-to-People Exchanges This title accurately reflects the main topic of the blog post, which is the surge in tourism in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) due to favorable policies such as visa facilitation measures.

Title Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Sees Surge in Local and Foreign Tourists Favorable Policies Drive Increase in People-to-People Exchanges

The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) has witnessed a remarkable surge in tourism, with both local and foreign visitors taking advantage of the country'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.

Notably, the bridge's total vehicle crossings have reached 95,000 from January 28 to Saturday, a 35.6 percent year-on-year increase. This surge is attributed to the country's visa facilitation measures, which have made it easier for tourists to travel between the GBA cities.

In Hong Kong, visitor arrivals have seen a significant increase, with over 680,000 people visiting the city from January 28 to January 31, representing a 4 percent year-on-year rise. The city has also witnessed a 16 percent rise in visitors from outside the Chinese mainland. Macao has not been left behind, with visitor arrivals reaching 219,000 on January 31, an increase of 50,000 from the previous day. The city's hotel occupancy rate has exceeded 90 percent, reflecting a surge in travel during the Spring Festival holiday period.

The surge in tourism is not limited to the GBA cities alone. Shenzhen, located in southern China's Guangdong province, has seen over 57,000 foreign arrivals and departures between January 28 and 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.

The country's visa facilitation measures have not only driven an increase in tourism but also boosted the local economy. According to Song Ding, a research fellow at the China Development Institute, favorable policies rolled out from the central government and regional government in the GBA since 2024 have driven a significant increase in people-to-people exchanges among cities in the region during the Spring Festival holidays.

This trend also reflects residents' recovering confidence in the overall economy and an uptick in attitude toward consumption, Song said. As the GBA continues to experience growth, it is essential for environmental policy experts to prioritize sustainability and eco-friendliness.

In conclusion, the GBA's surge in local and foreign tourism is a testament to the country's visa facilitation measures and favorable policies. As the region continues to grow, it is crucial that environmental policy experts prioritize sustainability and eco-friendliness to ensure that tourism development is environmentally sustainable. With careful planning and management, the GBA can continue to thrive while minimizing its environmental footprint.

Keywords Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), tourism, visa facilitation measures, people-to-people exchanges, sustainability, eco-friendliness, environmental policy experts.

Edward Lance Arellano Lorilla

CEO / Co-Founder

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