After almost three years since the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic, Hong Kong government has eased restrictions on foreign tourists, removing mandatory hotel quarantine. Hong Kong Tourism Board has welcomed the latest measures.

The Hong Kong Government has announced a new “0+3” arrangement for inbound travellers from overseas and Taiwan through Hong Kong International Airport. The steps include the removal of mandatory hotel quarantine, effective from September 26. The measures have been welcomed by the tourism and hospitality industry as they come almost three years after the pandemic outbreak in late 2019.

Chairman of the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) Pang Yiu-kai has also welcomed the announcement on the new arrangement. “The new arrangements mark Hong Kong’s re-opening as a tourism gateway with significant international connections. This is expected to initially attract mainly business travellers, family visitors and returning Hong Kong residents. In addition, travellers are no longer required to take a PCR test before boarding flights to Hong Kong, and upon arrival, they can head directly to their home or chosen hotel to await the test results. The new arrangements will allow greater convenience and flexibility for travellers,” he says.

“The application of the ‘Come2HK’ scheme to all Mainland and Macau visitors and the removal of quotas for the scheme will also facilitate Mainland travellers to visit Hong Kong, especially business travellers and family visitors,” he adds.

According to a press statement, the HKTB has been actively planning to revive the tourism industry and will launch various initiatives in a timely manner, working with the government, the tourism industry and related sectors, to drive the recovery of Hong Kong tourism.

The new arrangement marks Hong Kong’s further opening of its doors as a tourism gateway with international connections.

Under the new rules, travellers would need to be fully vaccinated (two doses) and a 24-hour rapid antigen test for Covid-19 before arrival. Upon arrival, all visitors would need to undergo an RTPCR test at the airport and then leave for their hotel/accommodation to await the test results.

Upto 9 am on Day 3 after their arrival, the visitors would be under medical surveillance and amber code that would allow them to take public transport, go to work, malls and supermarkets, but not allowed to enter restaurants, bars, pubs, party rooms, fitness centres or beauty parlours and joining any mask-off activities.

After 9 am on Day 3 after arrival, visitors would be in blue code and would not be restricted from any public activity. However, all visitors need to undergo RTPCR tests every 48 hours until Day 6, after which no more tests would be needed.