Ultra-low-priced tours exploiting mainland Chinese visitors survive despite crackdown

Ultra-low-priced tour packages targeting mainland Chinese visitors to Hong Kong continue to operate despite recent government crackdowns. These tours, often priced as low as 48 yuan (around US$7) per person, rely heavily on commissions generated from optional shopping stops and extra activities. The Travel Industry Authority has recently revoked the licenses of a travel agency and its tour guide following four suspected cases of coerced shopping between January and March, highlighting ongoing concerns about the exploitation of tourists during peak travel periods such as the Labour Day “golden week” holiday. An investigation by a reporter who joined one of these tours found that while the package included transport, a group lunch, and visits to popular attractions like Wong Tai Sin Temple and the West Kowloon Cultural District, the business model pressured visitors into making additional purchases. The tours are often booked through mainland Chinese online platforms such as Fliggy, owned by Alibaba, and even through Xianyu, a second-hand goods marketplace, where some participants paid as little as 1 yuan to join. This pricing strategy masks the true cost of the tours, which depend on commissions from shopping stops to remain profitable. Authorities and industry representatives maintain that such cases are isolated incidents; however, the persistence of these ultra-low-priced tours raises questions about the effectiveness of regulatory measures and the protection of mainland tourists. The practice has drawn criticism for potentially exploiting visitors by coercing them into spending beyond their expectations, undermining the reputation of Hong Kong’s tourism industry. The crackdown and license revocations signal a government effort to curb these exploitative practices, but the continued prevalence of such tours suggests more comprehensive enforcement and industry reforms may be necessary to safeguard tourists’ interests and maintain Hong Kong’s appeal as a travel destination.