Hong Kong proves travel lure despite big jump in airfares

The 10th anniversary of Hong Kong officially becoming part of China again has caused travel fever, resulting in price rises in airline tickets.

According to a local travel outlet, a one-way ticket from Shanghai to Hong Kong costs more than 1,000 yuan (US$129) this week, 200 yuan to 400 yuan more than the usual price.

"July is the tourism peak season, and Hong Kong will host a series of activities, including a shopping festival, in the next two months, attracting more people to the city," said Liu Xiaojun, an official with Shanghai CYTS Tours.

Since Hong Kong returned to Chinese sovereignty, it has been the most popular out-bound travel destination for mainland tourists. In 1997, about 2.3 million people from the Chinese mainland went to Hong Kong, while the number increased to 13.6 million in 2006, said the Hong Kong Tourism Board.

The number of Shanghai tourists traveling to Hong Kong has increased steadily from 1997's 23,600 to 2003's 99,000.

In 2004, it skyrocketed to 246,100, according to the statistics released by the Shanghai Tourism Administrative Commission.

The commission said 2004 was the first year after the SARS disaster, and people regained their vim for travel.

"Another reason was that the promotion by Hong Kong tourism authorities proved effective," said Yao Shuoye, an official with the commission. "Of course, the income increase for local people was also an important factor."

For mainland tourists, particularly women, Hong Kong is a fashion-products drawcard.

Zhang Meng, a local human resources employee, said Hong Kong is a paradise for shopping, as many brands difficult to find in Shanghai are commonplace there.

"I've been to Hong Kong twice during the past two years, just for cosmetics and shoes," she said. "The first time I did not buy much, but the second time I spent about 30,000 yuan."

Zhang said during the discount season, it's worthwhile going to Hong Kong for some second-class brands. "The markets can even offer 70 to 80 percent discounts," she said.

But not all news is good in the "shopping paradise." Problems include group travelers being pushed to buy unnecessary products and the proliferation of counterfeit or low-quality goods in some markets.

Civil servant Xu Lei went to Hong Kong for a four-day holiday with his family and gave a mixed review. The city left a great impression with its night scenery and exciting entertainment, but travel-service quality left a lot to be desired.

"The Spring International Travel Agency arranged four purchasing items during the journey, which was a total waste of time," he said. "We went there not for shopping, but for sightseeing."

Xu said he dared not buy so-called brand watches in the market where the tour guide took them. "I've read a dozen reports in newspapers saying the watches sold there turned out to be fake or bad quality," he said.

Consumer watchdogs from both the mainland and Hong Kong have joined forces to stamp out the problems. They have issued shopping warnings, and recommended some markets as safe places of purchase.

Mainland travelers can also lodge complaints about Hong Kong to consumer watchdogs in Shanghai, Guangzhou and Beijing.