The Power of GBA A Surge in Tourism

The Power of GBA A Surge in Tourism

The Power of GBA A Surge in Tourism



The Power of GBA A Surge in Tourism

As the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) continues to thrive, it's no surprise that a surge in tourism has been observed. With China's visa facilitation measures making it easier for both domestic and foreign tourists to visit the region, the GBA is poised for even greater success in the years to come.

Record-Breaking Traffic on Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge

According to state broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV), the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge handled a record-breaking 25,000 inbound and outbound vehicle trips on a single day, marking its highest traffic since opening in 2018. This remarkable feat is just one indication of the growing popularity of the GBA among tourists.

Increased Traffic at Border Crossings

From January 28 to Saturday, total vehicle crossings reached an impressive 95,000, representing a 35.6 percent year-on-year increase. In Hong Kong, over 680,000 people visited the city from January 28 to January 31, with 564,000 coming from the Chinese mainland – a 4 percent year-on-year rise.

Economic Confidence Booms

Zhu Chen, a resident in Guangdong, shared his observations of the surge in visitors from Hong Kong and Macao during the Spring Festival holiday period. As Song Ding, a research fellow at the China Development Institute, noted, favorable policies rolled out by the central government and regional government in the GBA since 2024 have driven significant increases in people-to-people exchanges among cities in the region.

Tourism Numbers Reach New Heights

In Macao, visitor arrivals reached an astonishing 219,000 on January 31 – a 50,000 increase from the previous day. The city's hotel occupancy rate has exceeded 90 percent, according to the report. In Shenzhen, over 57,000 foreign arrivals and departures were recorded between January 28 and 10 am Saturday, representing a 38 percent year-on-year increase.

Visa Facilitation A Key Factor

The GBA's visa facilitation measures have played a significant role in attracting tourists to the region. The policy granting permanent residents and residence permit holders in the Guangdong-Macao In-depth Cooperation Zone with a multi-entry permit for unrestricted visits has seen 16,000 visits made from January 1 to 31.

Expert Insights

Song Ding emphasized that this trend reflects residents' recovering confidence in the overall economy and an uptick in attitude toward consumption. The GBA's surge in tourism is undoubtedly driven by its unique blend of culture, history, and entertainment options, as well as the ease with which visitors can navigate the region.

Conclusion

The power of the GBA lies not only in its impressive infrastructure but also in its ability to bring people together. As the region continues to thrive, it's clear that tourism will play a vital role in driving economic growth and development. With its visa facilitation measures and favorable policies in place, the GBA is poised for even greater success in the years to come.

The Future of Tourism

As the GBA looks ahead to 2025 and beyond, its potential for growth is vast. With continued investment in infrastructure and tourism development, the region is poised to become a global tourism hub.

Key Takeaways

1. Economic Growth The increased traffic at border crossings and hotel occupancy rates indicate a significant boost to local economies.
2. Infrastructure Development As the region continues to grow, infrastructure development will be crucial to supporting tourism growth.
3. Cultural Exchange The GBA's unique blend of cultures will facilitate people-to-people exchanges, promoting understanding and cooperation between cities in the region.

Keywords Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), tourism, visa facilitation measures, Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR), Shenzhen, China Development Institute, Spring Festival holiday period.


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Edward Lance Arellano Lorilla

CEO / Co-Founder

Enjoy the little things in life. For one day, you may look back and realize they were the big things. Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.

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