HONG KONG, May 2 (Xinhua) -- On May 1 at Hong Kong Disneyland, a round, fluffy white figure waved its branch-like arms and waddled toward the crowd. "I'm Olaf, I love warm hugs!"
This was part of Hong Kong Disneyland's new attraction, launched during the Labor Day holiday, combining next-generation robotics with interactive technology to create an immersive experience for visitors.
From tech-driven interactions to coastal and mountain hiking and in-depth sightseeing, Hong Kong tourism is being revitalized with fresh ideas this holiday. The Immigration Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government estimated that about 980,000 mainland tourists will visit Hong Kong during the holiday, a year-on-year increase of around 7 percent.
During the Labor Day holiday, many shopping malls in Hong Kong offered special promotions. A mall in Sha Tin transformed its pop-up store into an immersive "coffee farm," gathering lifestyle goods and creative items in one place, with long queues forming at the entrance.
Tsim Sha Tsui and Causeway Bay were equally bustling, with jewelry shops and trendy brand stores seeing long lines of customers.
A full slate of concerts and exhibitions showcased Hong Kong's position as a bridge between Eastern and Western cultures. Lin Nian from Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, headed straight to the Hong Kong Coliseum after arriving by high-speed rail. She said that two concert tickets were the starting point of her Hong Kong trip.
At the former Yau Ma Tei police station, tourists posed for photos. The ongoing "Yau Ma Tei Police Station: A Cinematic Journey" exhibition allowed visitors to step inside the historical building and relive classic scenes from Hong Kong police dramas.
New experiences such as hiking, seaside trips and self-driving tours are rapidly broadening Hong Kong's tourism appeal. Kate Lam, founder of Splitdyboat, a local tour company, noted that more people are focusing on Hong Kong's unique natural scenery and geological features, doubling the scale of eco-tourism compared to last year.
On the first day of the Labor Day holiday, direct buses from the Liantang Port/Heung Yuen Wai boundary control point at Hong Kong-Shenzhen boundary to the start of Hong Kong's MacLehose Trail were nearly full. The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department of the HKSAR government reported heavy crowds at the east dam of High Island Reservoir.
Mr. Wang, a tourist from Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, planned to spend four days hiking the full 100 km of the MacLehose Trail. "It's a classic hiking route, and I wanted to experience it during the holiday," he said.
The rise of eco-tourism boosted surrounding businesses. Seafood restaurants near a pier in Sai Kung were packed. Ms. Chan, a restaurant owner, expected the holiday turnover to rise by 30 percent compared to normal days.
With Hong Kong's Southbound Travel for Guangdong Vehicles scheme, self-driving tours from Guangdong gained popularity. Mr. Chen from Guangzhou, south China, who entered via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, said it took only about 90 minutes to reach downtown Hong Kong. "In the past, visiting Hong Kong meant multiple transfers, which was tiring with kids. Now we can drive ourselves anytime," he added.
Vivian Kong Man Wai, a member of the HKSAR Legislative Council, suggested further improving cross-border transport connections, introducing Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area travel passes, and jointly promoting tourism with neighboring cities to enhance the overall appeal of regional tourism. ■
