Travel bubbles 'key to get tourism rolling'

Leung Fong-yuen, the chairwoman of Hong Kong Tourism Industry Employees General Union, said that the travel bubbles, which will enable a certain level of cross-border mobility for travelers, could serve as a lifeline for desperate tourism practitioners.

"As long as there are foreign visitors in our city, there could be business opportunities, and this is how our workers can keep their jobs," she said.

According to Hong Kong Tourism Board, overseas visitor arrivals in Hong Kong from January to July 2020 plummeted by 91.2 percent year-on-year.

A 23-year-old local flight attendant Bonnie Lee hopes the government move can revive the flight industry. Lee has had to take unpaid leave since the company suspended all flights in March. Although flights resumed in early August, she hasn't been asked to report for duty yet due to low passenger numbers.

Tiffany Wong, a 26-year-old assistant bank manager, is happy that "travel bubble" discussions are underway. The travel enthusiast said she used to travel at least five or six times a year, but has gone on only one trip this year.

The HKSAR government's initiative was also welcomed by the Australian consul general in Hong Kong. On Wednesday, a spokesperson responded to a media inquiry that the Australian government is also considering whether to restart wider travel with low-risk countries or territories.

In May, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia opened their borders to each other, creating the first "travel bubble" within the European Union.