Return of Mainland Chinese Budget Tourists Reignites Tensions in Hong Kong

In recent months, the blue-collar neighborhood of To Kwa Wan in Hong Kong, known as Potato Bay, has witnessed the arrival of tour buses, unloading throngs of travelers from mainland China. These budget tourists, absent since the pandemic-induced closure of China’s borders in 2020, have sparked renewed tensions in a city transformed by Beijing’s political crackdown.

Previously, the influx of mainlanders and their wealth had driven up prices and rents in Hong Kong, resulting in frustrations among local residents that occasionally led to bigotry. However, following the imposition of Beijing’s national security law on Hong Kong and subsequent muted criticism of the mainland, public sentiment towards these budget tourists has turned unwelcoming and occasionally rude.

Complaints from local residents include noise pollution, traffic congestion, and the unsightly sight of tourists squatting and dining outdoors. Instances such as tourists slurping cup noodles near a public toilet in Repulse Bay, an area of high-end properties, have offended local sensibilities. Even some members of Hong Kong’s pro-Beijing legislature have expressed impatience with the situation, advocating for higher-quality tour groups.

Before the pandemic and the 2019 pro-democracy protests, mainland visitors comprised nearly 80 percent of all arrivals in Hong Kong. With the strict pandemic measures imposed by the city, Hong Kong’s restaurants, hotels, and shops suffered from a severe lack of business. The return of budget tours aligns with the government’s efforts to revive tourism, as the city seeks to recover from the impact of the pandemic. However, due to flight restrictions, high-spending tourists have been absent.

Budget mainland tourists, on the other hand, face no such travel restrictions since they arrive by bus or boat. Nonetheless, local business owners have expressed dissatisfaction with their spending habits, which typically involve minimal purchases at local pharmacies. Complaints have surfaced regarding the short time allotted to each group for shopping, resulting in limited sales of high-value goods such as ginseng.

The phenomenon of budget tour groups has become a subject of ridicule on anti-government online forums, reminiscent of the era when some residents referred to mainlanders as “locusts” for their shopping sprees in Hong Kong. Conversely, mainland users on platforms like Douyin have shared hidden camera-style videos mocking the Cantonese-speaking city’s residents for their poor command of Mandarin. Some have also posted videos highlighting instances where they felt slighted by restaurant staff for using Mandarin.

Tour guide Miu Wang, responsible for overseeing dozens of visitors at once, defends the tourists against accusations of boorish behavior, citing the difficulty of controlling each individual’s actions. Hong Kong’s tourism minister, Kevin Yeung, has called on residents to be more accommodating while advocating for stricter oversight of visitors.

Efforts to manage the increased crowds include traffic police directing buses in neighborhoods like To Kwa Wan, and the placement of crowd control barriers to guide tourists towards restaurants.

Despite the mixed reception, mainland visitors like Zhang Zhanbin, who hadn’t been able to visit Hong Kong for the past three years due to the pandemic, express their excitement at being back. Zhang dismisses concerns of discrimination, emphasizing that Hong Kong is now under Chinese control, no longer a British colony.

Since its return to Chinese rule in 1997, Hong Kong was meant to maintain a high degree of autonomy for 50 years. However, the failed 2019 protests, aimed at preserving those freedoms, marked a turning point for the city. Today, signs of the city’s authoritarian shift can be seen throughout the urban landscape, from billboards promoting National Security Education Day to banners extolling the words of China’s top leader, Xi Jinping.

These changes have made Hong Kong more appealing to mainland visitors like Guo Xiuli, a retired state worker from Chaozhou. During her recent visit to Golden Bauhinia Square, a popular tourist site in the financial district, Guo noticed a shift in how she was treated compared to her first trip to Hong Kong in 2004. Back then, speaking Mandarin made her feel like a target of bigotry, facing rejection, indifference, and impatience from waitstaff and locals. However, she now feels that mainlanders are receiving more respect, possibly due to the mainland’s economic development.

Guo believes that Hong Kong is no longer as special or unique as it once seemed, reflecting the changing dynamics between the city and the mainland. The city’s authoritarian transformation, characterized by the imposition of the national security law and the promotion of mainland Chinese values, has made it more aligned with the mainland’s socio-political system.

As Hong Kong grapples with the return of budget tourists and the ongoing tensions arising from this influx, the city’s future as a global hub remains uncertain. The delicate balance between preserving Hong Kong’s unique identity and integrating it further into mainland China’s framework poses challenges and raises questions about the long-term implications for the city’s autonomy.

Meanwhile, the clash of cultures, language barriers, and economic disparities continue to fuel misunderstandings and frustrations between tourists and local residents. Bridging this divide and fostering mutual respect and understanding will be crucial in shaping the relationship between Hong Kong and mainland China, and in preserving the city’s reputation as a welcoming and vibrant international destination.

Ultimately, as Hong Kong moves forward, it faces the complex task of reconciling its historical legacy, its aspirations for autonomy, and its integration with the mainland. The return of budget tourists serves as a reminder of the multifaceted issues at play in this ever-evolving cityscape, highlighting the need for open dialogue, cultural exchange, and a shared vision for the future that can bridge the gap between Hong Kong and mainland China.