HONG KONG, Oct 17 : More affordable coronavirus testing is necessary to boost tourism between Hong Kong and Singapore as the two Asian financial hubs haveexempting residents from quarantine requirements, industry representatives said on Friday.
Under the agreement, travellers must prove they have tested negative for the virus within 72 hours before their departure and fly only on designated flights, to avoid quarantine. “It is expected that only people with urgent family and business needs will resume travel at the initial stage. The local tourism industry won’t benefit.”
A survey released on Thursday showed more than 80 per cent of local travel agencies “must” or are “very likely” to lay off staff if the government did not offer a fresh round of wage subsidies for their employees in the coming months. Also the chairman of Goldjoy Holidays, Yip urged the government to ease a restriction on group gatherings from four to 30, so their travel guides could survive on local tours.