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Column<Report from overseas office> [Hong Kong] Featured new ways to spend your holidays coexisting with the Covid-19.
Hong Kong is one of the five most densely populated cities in the world.
Hong Kong’s land area (about 1,100 square kilometres) is only about half that of Tokyo (about 2,200 square kilometres), and the city centre occupies less than 25% of the total area. With around 7.5 million people living in the city, the population density is very high.
The following comparisons with other cities will give you an idea of this.
Population density by cities_17 countries
Reference * Population and land area of each city: acuired from Statistics Office of each country (See the download Excel file for details) * Population density: calculated by Intage Inc.
Population density by cities_17 countries
As Hong Kong is not prone to earthquakes like Japan, the city is lined with skyscrapers and the view from the top of Hong Kong Island is famous for its million dollar night view. Due to the high population density, the cost of living is very high. Apart from the luxury homes of the rich, such as Li Ka-shing (Hong Kong’s richest person in 2021, with a net worth of approximately US$35.4 billion), and the comparatively large rooms in the suburbs and islands, the majority of people live in small flats. As a result, people in Hong Kong tend to go out on a regular basis. On weekends, the whole family goes out for dim sum, and on holidays, they travel to Japan and other countries around the world.
However, the spread of the Covid-19 led to travel bans and quarantine policies around the world, preventing people from travelling freely. And the border between Hong Kong and mainland China is no longer freely accessible. And the border between Hong Kong and mainland China is no longer freely accessible. In other words, the people of Hong Kong were trapped within the confines of Hong Kong. But the people of Hong Kong are resilient, and began to enjoy the easy leisure activities in Covid-19 crisis. In this article, I would like to introduce you to some of the most popular ways to spend the holidays in Hong Kong.
Staycation
“Staycation” is a word coined from “Stay” and “Vacation”. The concept is to enjoy a holiday in a hotel. Hong Kong used to be a popular destination for tourists, but following the travel ban, the number of visitors dropped to almost zero. During that time, the struggling hotel industry began to promote Staycation to Hong Kong people. Everyday life in Hong Kong is full of hustle and bustle. The hotel’s main aim is to provide an escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The most popular hotels are the 5 star luxury hotels. Normally, the cost of accommodation would be relatively high, but due to the sharp decline in tourism, hotels are offering significant discounts on the price of accommodation. In addition, the most popular luxury hotels are those that are ‘Instagrammable’. Young women and families are staying in “Instagrammable” hotels for birthdays and other anniversaries, using room service to take photos of the view of Victoria Harbour from the window, or afternoon tea in the hotel restaurant, and posting them on social media. Hotels therefore offer a range of packages to help guests make the most of their hotel stay. In particular, cash voucher plans are very common. The concept is to use the cash voucher for as much of the hotel’s facilities as possible, such as restaurants, room service and spa facilities.
Outdoor leisure activities to enjoy nature
Source: Author’s photo
Firstly, trekking is a popular activity for both young and senior citizens. There are trekking trails all over Hong Kong, ranging from a leisurely walk that takes a few hours to complete to a full day’s trek along steep mountain paths. It is common to see people taking photos at the end of the trail and sharing them with friends on social media.
Source: Author’s photo
Camping is also popular among families who have their own car. We go to the camping sites in the suburbs and enjoy camping with BBQ and other activities. For Hong Kongers living in the midst of skyscrapers, spending time in nature can be very relaxing.
In this article, I have introduced the latest leisure activities of Hong Kong’s resilient people, who have found new ways to enjoy their leisure time even in the Covid-19 crisis. Before Corvid-19 pandemic, Hong Kong visitors to Japan were not only enjoying the traditional pleasures of shopping and gourmet food, but also enjoying “hands-on” experiences such as going to the outskirts of Japan to enjoy scenic spots. Research shows that people in Hong Kong are more willing to get vaccinated for travelling sooner than other countries details here. As Hong Kong people become more familiar with the new ways of enjoying leisure time, such as “Unusual Staycation in a Hotel” and “enjoying nature activities”, they may be looking for new ways to enjoy their trip to Japan.
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Author profile
(Mr.) Hideo Mukai
A accountant living in Hong Kong. I have lived in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Hong Kong for a total of 11 years.
I am constantly following the speedy changes in Hong Kong's cosmopolitan society. -
Editor profile
(Ms.) Risa Takahama
I am in charge of managing the Global Market Surfer website.
In Covid-19, I recently experienced a staycation for the first time.
- Oct 21, 2021
- 3445 Views