Hong Kong scales back on visitor restrictions

Government says existing Covid restrictions will be relaxed for international travellers.

Visitors will soon be able to visit theme parks and museums and dine out.
Visitors will soon be able to visit theme parks and museums and dine out. Photo Credit: Adobe/f11photo

Inbound visitors to Hong Kong who have pre-registered their itineraries will be allowed to visit tourist destinations such as theme parks, museums and temples and they can also dine out.

The Hong Kong Government said the new measures, announced this week (7 November) are aimed at providing a more favourable business environment for the travel trade.

Under current Covid restrictions, inbound travellers have to follow the 'amber code' for restrictions, which prevents them from dining out within their first three days of arrival and visiting other venues. They will now be able to enter designated tourist attractions including theme parks, museums and temples when holding an Amber Code of the Vaccine Pass and enter and also dine in the partitioned areas in designated catering premises that meet special anti-epidemic requirements.

For inbound tour groups to be eligible, relevant licensed travel agents must pre-register their itineraries with the Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong (TIC), and undertake strict compliance with applicable anti-epidemic measures.

These include requiring inbound group tour travellers to use the ‘LeaveHomeSafe’ mobile app and comply with requirements under the Vaccine Pass, while staff members must also wear a mask at all times when receiving the inbound tour group travellers.

These new measures follow the easing of restrictions at an event hosted last week in Hong Kong. A group of more than 200 who arrived in the destination to take part in a financial summit were exempt from current rules for international arrivals and allowed to dine in private rooms.

The government has not yet announced a specific date when the new arrangements will start but said relevant information will be uploaded to TIC's website in due course.